Zimbabweans not Namibia's only salvation – Nudo
The National Unity Democratic Organisation (Nudo) says government must stop treating Zimbabwean nationals as the country's only salvation in terms of skills transfer and invest in the development of its own people.
The presidential spokesperson of the party, Joseph Kauandenge, yesterday expressed concern about the preferential treatment that government is giving to Zimbabweans professionals working in Namibia.
He said in a statement the recent revelations that the government is paying around N$697 130 per month in rental costs to 86 Zimbabwean professionals is very disturbing.
The annual expenditure is more than N$8.4 million.
The total cost to the country for these professionals is more than N$55.7 million per year. That includes a monthly transport expenditure of N$10 million, while the expats already receive travel allowances as part of their packages.
“While at the outset we do not have any problem with qualified Zimbabweans working in Namibia, we are disturbed by the special treatment they get when working here.”
Kauandenge said a case in point is the recent announcement by the ministry to exempt them from registration with the relevant authorities as surveyors, architects etc.
“We are of the opinion that the so-called special relationship that has not yet been properly defined between Namibia and Zimbabwe cannot and should not be used as a carte blanche cheque to milk our country of much-needed money, just because we must entertain and give employment to Zimbabweans.”
He said Namibians must come first when employment opportunities arise and the excuse of Namibians not having enough experience in certain fields is just a mere fabrication by the government to accommodate “Robert Mugabe's kids” in Namibia at all cost.
“This becomes even clearer in the recent SME Bank saga, where many Zimbabweans were doing jobs that ordinary Namibians could do with ease.”
Kauandenge said if government continues to sing the song of Namibians being unqualified 27 years after independence then government must take full responsibility and accept that they have failed miserably in educating Namibians to become competent players in the socioeconomic development of the country.
He said if government invests in the development of Namibians there will no need to spend so much money on foreigners that are masquerading as experts, while Namibians remain jobless.
ELLANIE SMIT
The presidential spokesperson of the party, Joseph Kauandenge, yesterday expressed concern about the preferential treatment that government is giving to Zimbabweans professionals working in Namibia.
He said in a statement the recent revelations that the government is paying around N$697 130 per month in rental costs to 86 Zimbabwean professionals is very disturbing.
The annual expenditure is more than N$8.4 million.
The total cost to the country for these professionals is more than N$55.7 million per year. That includes a monthly transport expenditure of N$10 million, while the expats already receive travel allowances as part of their packages.
“While at the outset we do not have any problem with qualified Zimbabweans working in Namibia, we are disturbed by the special treatment they get when working here.”
Kauandenge said a case in point is the recent announcement by the ministry to exempt them from registration with the relevant authorities as surveyors, architects etc.
“We are of the opinion that the so-called special relationship that has not yet been properly defined between Namibia and Zimbabwe cannot and should not be used as a carte blanche cheque to milk our country of much-needed money, just because we must entertain and give employment to Zimbabweans.”
He said Namibians must come first when employment opportunities arise and the excuse of Namibians not having enough experience in certain fields is just a mere fabrication by the government to accommodate “Robert Mugabe's kids” in Namibia at all cost.
“This becomes even clearer in the recent SME Bank saga, where many Zimbabweans were doing jobs that ordinary Namibians could do with ease.”
Kauandenge said if government continues to sing the song of Namibians being unqualified 27 years after independence then government must take full responsibility and accept that they have failed miserably in educating Namibians to become competent players in the socioeconomic development of the country.
He said if government invests in the development of Namibians there will no need to spend so much money on foreigners that are masquerading as experts, while Namibians remain jobless.
ELLANIE SMIT
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