NUNW: Deadline comes … and goes

The leadership of the National Union of Namibian Workers (NUNW), which had demanded an apology from Swapo secretary-general Nangolo Mbumba by yesterday afternoon, has not disclosed whether this ultimatum yielded any results.

NUNW secretary-general Job Muniaro, to whom all questions in this connection were referred, could not be engaged for long enough to get an answer as to what had transpired since the demand for an apology was made last Sunday.

They had given Mbumba three days to apologise.

Mbumba said yesterday afternoon that the group had requested a meeting with the Swapo leadership, to which he had agreed.

This group is accusing Mbumba of having deliberately and maliciously ignored their list of nominees to the Swapo CC meeting and congress.

This faction, led by Muniaro and the general secretary of the Namibia Public Workers' Union (Napwu), Petrus Nevonga, also demanded that Mbumba admit that he had “misled” Swapo's central committee and politburo by not accepting their list as the authentic delegation to the ruling party's congress and CC meeting.

Mbumba denied the allegations, saying that he had received two lists from the NUNW – one from the Nevonga/Muniaro group and the other from controversially deposed NUNW president Ismael Kasuto.

Mbumba earlier said that the fault lay with the NUNW and not with his office.

Nevonga was kicked out of the Swapo CC meeting last Sunday because Kasuto, who was previously elected as NUNW representative on that structure, was also in attendance.

After the Swapo CC meeting on Sunday, the Nevonga/Muniaro group held a press briefing to declare their dissatisfaction with Mbumba and Swapo acting president Hage Geingob and accused the two of failed leadership.

The list of delegates to Swapo's congress this group has submitted includes Anna Shigweda, Loide Shaanika, Sarafina Kandere, Hilma Uushona, Lovisa Ndeyapo Iikali, Julia Endjambi, Ester Nghipondoka, Justina Jona, Jacob Nghifindaka, Job Muniaro, Dr Elijah Ngurare, John Uushona, Evans Mashwahu, Jessy Nombanza, Jacob Penda and Joseph Dinyando.

The delegates nominated for the Swapo central committee are Anna Shiweda, Loide Shaanika, Jacob Nghifindaka and Job Muniaro.



The other list

Kasuto in the meantime issued a statement in which he outlined another list of 16 names of affiliate members who are to represent the workers' federation at the upcoming Swapo congress.

The names include Kasuto, Simeon Kavila, Sarafina Kandere, Asnath Zamuee, Esther Nailenge, Cornelius Ntelamo, Rocco Nguvauva, Jessy Nombanza, Angula Angula, Suama Itope Kalulu, Nancy Kahua, Desley Somseb, Regina Nambahu, Jackie Karumbo, Paulus Namwandi, and Lahja Hitula.

Those nominated for Swapo's central committee are Nguvauva, Natangue Ithete, Regina Nambahu, and Zamuee.

Kasuto said these delegates were nominated and appointed at a constitutionally held central executive committee on 16 September and their names were submitted to Swapo on 20 September.

He said this list included the “only authentic and inclusive” delegates to the Swapo congress.

He said all affiliated unions were fairly represented on the list despite the fact that only the Mine Workers Union (MUN) has paid up its membership to the NUNW.

Albert Liswaniso who was appointed as the acting president after Kasuto's ousting from the NUNW, is quoted as saying that steps would be taken against Kasuto for allegedly “destabilising” the federation.

To this, Kasuto responded: “I have never destabilised the NUNW. I have only executed the mandate given to me by the NUNW CEC as president of the federation. Mr Liswaniso is a retiree since February and not a member of the NUNW affiliates.

He has vacated his position in terms of the NUNW constitution (Article 10.2.1). It is strange that he is only waking up now after his retirement.”

CATHERINE SASMAN