TransNamib accused of ‘white supremacy’

The TransNamib board has been accused of “white supremacy” and of trying to “create a white Zoo Park” following the suspension of its chief executive officer Sara Naanda yesterday. The company said yesterday in a short statement that Naanda had been suspended with full pay, pending the finalisation of investigations into “allegations of wrongdoing, inter alia, insubordination of board instructions”. The parastatal’s executive for strategy and stakeholder management Hippy Tjivikua, has been appointed as acting CEO “until further notice”. Naanda has remained mum, repeatedly telling Namibian Sun that she was busy yesterday and would comment at a later stage. State-owned Enterprises Governance Council (SOEGC) Executive Director Frans Tsheehama refused to comment, saying he will only do so after Minister of Works and Transport Erkki Nghimtina does so. “We do not know why she was suspended and we won’t comment until the line minister does,” he said. What followed yesterday was massive political fallout, with Swapo Party Youth League (SPYL) spokesman Job Amupanda accusing TransNamib of “white supremacy”. Amupanda said: “This is a display of white supremacy of its worst kind. You have a white board chairperson who imposed another white person, whose citizenship we do not know, on the CEO without her knowledge.” “This is to operationalise their long standing plan of turning TransNamib into their own ‘Zoo Park’.” According to the young politician, there are black Namibians who are conniving and in cohorts with the ‘whites’ to promote the idea of “white supremacy”. “This has happened at Air Namibia and Roads Construction Company where these white supremacists are taking over with the help of their tea boys and girls in the form of the board and general managers.” Amupanda then turned his attention to Nghimtina for “leading in absentia” as the TransNamib saga unfolds. “We are disappointed the most in silence and indifference of the Minister. We have a lot of respect and confidence in him but he did not arrest the situation before the white supremacist took over.” However, TransNamib Board spokesperson, Dantagos Jimmy-Melani dismissed talks that a racial war at the parastatal had led to the suspension of Naanda. “There are several allegations which are being investigated and suspending the CEO is the legal thing to do while investigations are ongoing,” Jimmy-Melani said. “We do not look at the colour of the person skin. The board is united in turning this company around.” The woes at TransNamib have over the years included the company claiming bankruptcy, followed by a host of government bailouts. There have also been several labour disruptions over salary disputes. The company recently launched a 180-day turnaround plan – comprising the revival of 12 General Electric locomotives, restructuring operations and the addressing of long-standing debt. This is to be headed by former investment banker Johan Piek, who will oversee the process. The parastatal said at the time that Piek’s appointment would free up Naanda and senior management to concentrate on the institution’s day-to-day running. Jimmy-Melani said yesterday that Piek’s appointment had nothing to do with Naanda’s suspension, as the turnaround strategy is a “totally independent project”. Amupanda alleged that Piek was part of a “white supremacist” plot to takeover and control TransNamib. Worker issues Namibia National Labour Organisation (NANLO) President Evilastus Kaaronda yesterday said TransNamib has over the past years been making huge financial savings by “illegally paying” its employees 35% below the market range. He claimed TransNamib had appointed Naanda on a salary of over N$2 million a year “Yet the board and management of TransNamib, together with the line ministry, wants us to be believe that the company is cash-strapped,” Kaaronda said. He said NANLO is demanding that workers salaries be adjusted upward by 35%” He also called on President Hifikepunye Pohamba to fire Nghimtina and “institute swift measures aimed at cleaning up TransNamib”. “It is clear that the minister has for the past years been part of chaos and keeping him there is in no way in the best interest of TransNamib or any other parastatals under his auspices.” WINDHOEK ELVIS MURARANGANDA