Africa-Press – Namibia. OVER 300 delegates will attend the 10th congress of the Namibia Public Workers Union that kicks off at Swakopmund today, and, according to the union’s general secretary Petrus Nevonga, only worker-related matters are on the agenda, and “no politics”.
OVER 300 delegates will attend the 10th congress of the Namibia Public Workers Union that kicks off at Swakopmund today, and, according to the union’s general secretary Petrus Nevonga, only worker-related matters are on the agenda, and “no politics”.
President Hage Geingob will officially open the three-day congress, which is the highest decision-making organ of Napwu. The congress will focus on matters related to employment, and the economy and how it affects the workers, Nevonga told The Namibian yesterday. It also serves as a congress where new leaders will be elected.
“This is something that happens every five years, and we look at the last five year’s implementations and progress, and also pass resolutions which would take the union forward until the next congress,” he said.
Asked about the political connection the union has to Namibia as a nation, or to Swapo, Nevonga made it clear that he did not want to talk politics, and that the congress was for the benefit of the public workers sector.
“The congress has nothing to do with politics, neither are we affiliated to any political party. It is a congress of the workers – it’s just about workers’ issues and labour matters.”
Asked about specific issues that might receive more attention, he said “all things are equal”.
Former secretary general of the National Union of Namibian Workers (NUNW), to which Napwu is affiliated, Evilastus Kaaronda, does not believe the Napwu congress will focus on its members.
According to him, the union could be much more beneficial to the nation if it was correctly used as a socio-economic transformation platform.
“Unfortunately, these gatherings are used as political tools and to that end they are no good to the country and not helpful at all to its members,” he said.
Kaaronda claims that open and democratic debate is stifled at the event, especially if views are contrary to those of the leadership. This also stifles the positive development of the union and its purpose, he said.
He claimed that while there may be reference to labour and worker matters, the corridors and sidelines will accommodate discussions on who the next Swapo leaders would be, and so use the opportunity to lobby for the support of specific party leaders.
Kaaronda said the significance of Geingob opening the congress was that it served as a platform to signal indirectly who he wants as his choice candidate for Swapo.
“Of course, they want to make sure that whatever ideas or agendas Swapo has, and to whom they are affiliated, continues and are adhered to by the workers. A number of the delegates could also potentially be delegates to the Swapo elective congress,” he said.
President Hage Geingob will officially open the three-day congress, which is the highest decision-making organ of Napwu. The congress will focus on matters related to employment, and the economy and how it affects the workers, Nevonga told The Namibian yesterday. It also serves as a congress where new leaders will be elected.
“This is something that happens every five years, and we look at the last five year’s implementations and progress, and also pass resolutions which would take the union forward until the next congress,” he said.
Asked about the political connection the union has to Namibia as a nation, or to Swapo, Nevonga made it clear that he did not want to talk politics, and that the congress was for the benefit of the public workers sector.
“The congress has nothing to do with politics, neither are we affiliated to any political party. It is a congress of the workers – it’s just about workers’ issues and labour matters.”
Asked about specific issues that might receive more attention, he said “all things are equal”.
Former secretary general of the National Union of Namibian Workers (NUNW), to which Napwu is affiliated, Evilastus Kaaronda, does not believe the Napwu congress will focus on its members.
According to him, the union could be much more beneficial to the nation if it was correctly used as a socio-economic transformation platform.
“Unfortunately, these gatherings are used as political tools and to that end they are no good to the country and not helpful at all to its members,” he said.
Kaaronda claims that open and democratic debate is stifled at the event, especially if views are contrary to those of the leadership. This also stifles the positive development of the union and its purpose, he said.
He claimed that while there may be reference to labour and worker matters, the corridors and sidelines will accommodate discussions on who the next Swapo leaders would be, and so use the opportunity to lobby for the support of specific party leaders.
Kaaronda said the significance of Geingob opening the congress was that it served as a platform to signal indirectly who he wants as his choice candidate for Swapo.
“Of course, they want to make sure that whatever ideas or agendas Swapo has, and to whom they are affiliated, continues and are adhered to by the workers. A number of the delegates could also potentially be delegates to the Swapo elective congress,” he said.
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