Civil servants are 'starving' and 'misused' - Tucna

Trade Union Congress of Namibia (Tucna) secretary general (SG), Kavihuha Mahongora says speeches made about the country&#039;s public servants should be delivered in shame.Mahongora said this during a press conference following the 2023 Africa Public Service Day (APSD), which was celebrated in the Zambezi Region last week.According to the SG, public servants are "starving" and "misused" by the very people who are supposed to protect them.Honouring public servants During the APSD celebrations in Katima Mulilo, deputy minister of industrialisation and trade, Verna Sinimbo, delivered a keynote address on behalf of Prime Minister Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila."As we commemorate APSD this year, we celebrate the work of public service cemented in the progress, socially and economically, achieved thus far. We also appreciate and honour the public servants who are at the centre of public service delivery and thus behind the achievements that we have realised."In response, Mahongora said: "She [the prime minister] must address the people with some degree of shame. She is addressing people that she&#039;s starving and misusing and pretending to care for them."We heard that people discussed the salaries of public servants behind closed doors. How do you discuss something while the people who are being discussed are in the dark?" he asked.Unaffordable Last year civil servants received a salary hike of 3%, Mahongora said. According to him, civil servants have reached a stage where basic needs like water and electricity have become close to unaffordable, noting a recent hike in NamPower electricity tariffs."Namibians should stand up and start a national uprising against this. This will make the poor poorer and the rich richer. The leadership of NamPower has successfully failed the nation, and we cannot accept this without being opposed to it."He added: “With commodities&#039; prices increasing it&#039;s clear that public servants cannot cope anymore.”Concerns about MTC workersThe SG also raised concerns about the alleged ill-treatment of MTC call centre staff, allegations MTC has denied. According to Mahongora, the telecommunication giant&#039;s employees have alleged that some of them have not been offered a permanent contract even after working at the company for over seven years.He said simple privileges like using the toilet and joining a trade union are denied to the employees and demanded MTC rectify the situation or face consequences. Mahongora further claimed that the parastatal is "hostile" and opposed to having its employees join trade unions."We demand that MTC remove threats and pressure on employees against joining trade unions, give with immediate effect permanent employment contracts with benefits to call centre agents, and desist from acts that prevent workers from enjoying their rights."If they fail to do so, we will retaliate, whether through legal action or organising a strike. We have the masses and energy to deal with it," he said.No businessWhen contacted for a comment on the allegations, MTC chief human capital and corporate affairs officer Tim Ekandjo said the company would not "entertain" the union&#039;s allegations."We have no relationship whatsoever with Tucna, and that is probably why they chose to address alleged MTC issues publicly as opposed to speaking to us directly," he said."Our ambassadors have plenty of internal channels to address any concerns freely, and we will not entertain Tucna&#039;s utterances or discuss issues about our staff publicly," Ekandjo told Namibian Sun.

Civil servants are 'starving' and 'misused' - Tucna

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Namibian Sun 2025-09-18

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Civil servants are 'starving' and 'misused' - Tucna

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Namibian Sun 2025-09-18

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