Africa-Press – Namibia. KAMANJAB constituency councillor Nico Somaeb says the biggest challenge his office is currently facing is the exploitation of charcoal industry workers from the two Kavango regions.
“Some are told they are going to work in a garden. When they arrive at Kamanjab, they are told to work in charcoal production, Somaeb said on Saturday.
He said after travelling hundreds of kilometres from the two Kavango regions, workers resort to work in charcoal production as they have no other option.
“These workers are left once production is done. Labour exploitation is a problem here,” Somaeb said.
He said a worker in the charcoal industry was recently fired for allegedly asking for his outstanding payment. Some dismissed workers have been sleeping at Kamanjab’s service stations, Somaeb said.
He said he plans to organise a meeting with the governor of the Kunene region, the police, charcoal companies, and associations next month to address the workers’ situation. The workers are left to starve, he said. Somaeb could not specify the number of people from the Kavango regions visiting the counstituency office.
“The number is unspecified, because they are coming almost every week for work, and demand food from the councillor’s office,” he said, adding he assists the workers with food.
Somaeb said that 2 108 households with 6 483 beneficiaries have been registered for drought relief. The beneficaries have received food rations, such as tinned fish, cooking oil and maize meal. Besides the drought relief food, 390 San and Ovahimba communities have also received rations through the marginalised community programme.
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