NAC must explain its position

The ‘retrenchment or restructuring’ fiasco that has erupted at the Namibia Airports Company (NAC) has somehow blighted the reputation of the company, as no-one wants to speak on what the future holds. The fact that the management, led by its boss Ben Biwa, has remained mum on the apparent retrenchment issue has sent all the employees panicking, with most fearing jobs losses.

Biwa claims that he has no mandate from the Board of Directors to speak on the matter, but the question is, how long must he wait for the mandate? Is he not ultimately in charge of the organisation?

Well, the Board calls the shots on such crucial matters by mainly advising, but the company management will be held accountable by the employees as the employees report to them and not the Board. The cat and mouse game at the company must surely come to an end as people’s livelihoods are at stake here.

Most of the 280 workforce do not know what their future hold at the company.

Despite the fact that the NAC face huge financial problems, with a staggering wage bill of N$60 million a month, it is equally important to come out and clearly state explain what they intend to do. In principal, the management, which in this case runs a public institution, must also take the flak if this process falls through in the end as it was not approached with caution and never explained fully. Even the unions representing the workers, the labour Commissioner and the Government as a stakeholder is in the dark on the plans of the institution.

It is worrying to see that no one wants to take ownership now that NAC is in a quagmire.

If the Board feels, as the only ones obliged to speak on this, then they must engage all parties and make a collective announcement and not hide in meetings as if they are trying to resolve the issue - which has in fact hit a slippery slope already.

The management, including Biwa are employed to manage the company and they should, together with the Board take ownership and explain the precarious situation in which this national asset finds itself.