Lengthy suspensions discouraged
11 March 2019 | Transport
The lengthy suspension of four staff members at the Namibia Airports Company has been criticised by transport minister John Mutorwa.
When he announced the appointment of new NAC boss Bisey /Uirab last week, Mutorwa called for the swift conclusion of the disciplinary hearings of commercial services manager Toska Sem, human resources manager Josephine Soroses, finance and administration manager Verengai Ruswa and human resources manager Albert Sibeya.
“As far as the suspension of staff members is concerned, I advise that, where so justified, it must be done within the prescription of the applicable laws as well as within the letter and spirit of Article 18 of the constitution,” Mutorwa said.
Mutorwa said suspensions could ruin the reputations of those involved, sometimes unfairly.
“We are ruled by law. Suspensions should be short so that the process of disciplinary hearings can start,” Mutorwa said.
According to him, the suspension of the four managers harmed the NAC financially.
“This thing of just suspending has cost the company. How do you run a company like that?” Mutorwa asked.
Mutorwa had previously warned that the suspensions at the NAC had negative consequences.
“The long drawn-out suspension of senior managers at the NAC has serious [consequences] for the activities of the company.
“The board was tasked to urgently deal with the matter to ensure that those executives whose cases are finalised and not found guilty must resume their work at least by 28 August 2018,” Mutorwa said at the time.
The four managers have since been reinstated while investigations continue.
Acting NAC CEO Lot Haifide had at the time asked human resources manager Soroses to explain why she had signed five contracts, valued at a combined N$1.1 million, between 11 August 2017 and 18 August 2017.
The contracts included hiring an economist to inform staff members about the state of the Namibian economy, training the human resources team, a supervisory skills training course, Microsoft Excel training and a training session on how to chair disciplinary hearings.
OGONE TLHAGE
When he announced the appointment of new NAC boss Bisey /Uirab last week, Mutorwa called for the swift conclusion of the disciplinary hearings of commercial services manager Toska Sem, human resources manager Josephine Soroses, finance and administration manager Verengai Ruswa and human resources manager Albert Sibeya.
“As far as the suspension of staff members is concerned, I advise that, where so justified, it must be done within the prescription of the applicable laws as well as within the letter and spirit of Article 18 of the constitution,” Mutorwa said.
Mutorwa said suspensions could ruin the reputations of those involved, sometimes unfairly.
“We are ruled by law. Suspensions should be short so that the process of disciplinary hearings can start,” Mutorwa said.
According to him, the suspension of the four managers harmed the NAC financially.
“This thing of just suspending has cost the company. How do you run a company like that?” Mutorwa asked.
Mutorwa had previously warned that the suspensions at the NAC had negative consequences.
“The long drawn-out suspension of senior managers at the NAC has serious [consequences] for the activities of the company.
“The board was tasked to urgently deal with the matter to ensure that those executives whose cases are finalised and not found guilty must resume their work at least by 28 August 2018,” Mutorwa said at the time.
The four managers have since been reinstated while investigations continue.
Acting NAC CEO Lot Haifide had at the time asked human resources manager Soroses to explain why she had signed five contracts, valued at a combined N$1.1 million, between 11 August 2017 and 18 August 2017.
The contracts included hiring an economist to inform staff members about the state of the Namibian economy, training the human resources team, a supervisory skills training course, Microsoft Excel training and a training session on how to chair disciplinary hearings.
OGONE TLHAGE
Classifieds