Workers downed tools Monday in Rundu amid non-payment dispute

Temporary labourers contracted to handle drought relief supplies at a government warehouse in Rundu downed tools on Monday morning, citing unpaid wages for about six months.On Tuesday, the workers returned to their posts, telling Namibian Sun that following a meeting on Monday with the warehouse supervisor and some council members, they were promised they would receive their pending wages.Speaking to Namibian Sun on Monday, one of the workers, Ansbald Lisolo, claimed that the group had exhausted all channels trying to get answers from the Office of the Prime Minister and the Kavango East Regional Council. Although only the Rundu-based workers downed tools, the non-payment issue reportedly affects labourers at other drought relief warehouses across Kavango East.“When we call the OPM, they say that we [fall] under the Kavango Regional Council. The OPM, they are used to pay only the money to the regional council. Then the regional council must pay us,” Lisolo said.“But when we ask the regional council, they say that the money is there [with the] OPM. Now we don't know where we can go.”Struggling to survive The labourers, employed to offload and reload food items, say the lack of payment has made it difficult to pay for essential items, including rent. Lisolo, based in Rundu, said the group was initially contracted for three months – February, March and April – but were asked to continue working, allegedly without new contracts being signed.The workers claim despite the extension, they have not received consistent pay, with some getting one or two months’ wages and others allegedly receiving nothing at all.“Today is August, but we are still not getting the payment,” he said. “Those at Mukwe, Ndiona and Mashare did not even get any salary," he added. According to Lisolo, there are 18 workers in Rundu, 14 in Mukwe and 10 each in Ndiyona and Mashare and all are affected by the same issue.They said they have written to the Kavango East Regional Council, the prime minister’s office and the regional governor but have received no response.“Now we are suffering here. We are working just like slaves, just like volunteers. But those people, they promised us to give us a salary,” Lisolo said. He added that despite the hard physical nature of their daily work offloading and reloading food items, they are struggling to survive. He noted the irony of working at a drought-relief warehouse while experiencing hunger. “We are working with hunger there at the warehouse. Even they are not allowed us to eat, not even maize meal.”Follow channels Lisolo also said the contract stipulated a rate of N$17 per hour, but payments were irregular.“Someone will get like N$3 000 and next month you get N$2 000. The overtime is there, but the overtime is nothing. The money is not there.”The Kavango East Regional Council confirmed on Monday that it had held an internal meeting with the affected workers in an attempt to find a resolution.The council added that proper channels must be followed, especially as some senior officials are currently out of the country. Consultations are ongoing, they added.Attempts on Tuesday to obtain further comment were unsuccessful, as those responsible for media engagement were reportedly unavailable at the time.phillipus@nmh-hub.com.na

Workers downed tools Monday in Rundu amid non-payment dispute

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Namibian Sun 2025-08-13

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Workers downed tools Monday in Rundu amid non-payment dispute

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Namibian Sun 2025-08-13

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