Gendev workers appeal to top Swapo brass

Gendev Fishing Group's land-based factory employees have escalated their grievances to the highest levels of the Swapo Party leadership, demanding urgent intervention in what they describe as a severe corporate governance crisis.In a media release circulating on social media, dated 10 November, the permanent workforce formally addressed its concerns to Swapo president and head of state Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, the Office of the Vice-President, secretary general Sophia Shaningwa, deputy secretary general Uahekua Herunga, secretary for economic affairs Bernadette Jagger and deputy secretary Ipumbu Shiimi.The employees are calling for what they describe as immediate structural intervention to safeguard the company from what they allege is ongoing mismanagement.The latest escalation follows the advertisement of the permanent managing director position, with applications closing on 20 November.The workers have strongly condemned the recruitment process, describing it as a “reckless disruption to the hard-won industrial peace and operational stability” achieved following the resolution of previous wage matters in August.They are demanding the immediate cancellation of the recruitment campaign, insisting that the position be awarded to current acting managing director Deon Grünschloss.According to the employees, Grünschloss has “reliably steered factory operations, stabilised labour relations, and maintained workplace discipline”, drawing on institutional knowledge gained since 2014.The release also takes aim at the leadership of Swapo's commercial wing, with the employees demanding the immediate removal of Guinas Investments chairperson Paulina Haindongo and deputy chairperson Joseph Andreas from the Gendev board and all linked commercial structures before 30 November.UltimatumBeyond the leadership changes, the workers are demanding a fast-tracked forensic investigation into the company's financial resources, capital allocations and historical management structures under the current board's tenure.The release further states that the employees invoke provisions of the Labour Act, 2007, and the Companies Act, 2004, arguing that the board's structural changes raise concerns about good-faith bargaining and accountability for corporate assets.The employees have given Swapo seven working days from receipt of the memorandum to provide a satisfactory response and implement structural intervention.Should their demands not be met within that timeframe, they warn that they will have no alternative but to exercise their constitutional rights to hold a peaceful industrial standstill at the processing facility or launch a camping campaign at Swapo's national headquarters in Windhoek.

Gendev workers appeal to top Swapo brass

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Namibian Sun 2026-11-12

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Gendev workers appeal to top Swapo brass

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Namibian Sun 2026-11-12

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