Air Namibia employees call for probe

AIR NAMIBIA has launched an urgent investigation into fresh allegations of racism, corruption, favouritism and other unspecified irregularities at the company.

According to sources and documents in The Namibian’s possession, a group calling itself ‘Concerned Employees of Air Namibia’ has written to Board Chairman Vekuii Rukoro alleging widespread irregularities by some of the national air carrier’s top managers. The Namibian has learned from reliable sources that the row has been sparked by the recent appointment of the Acting Manager for Flight Operations.There is apparently a general feeling among some employees that the position was given to a “white person” who only has Grade 10, while “blacks” with better qualifications were overlooked.The airline’s Public Relations and Advertising Manager, Ellison Hijarunguru, reluctantly confirmed the investigation, which started on January 21.”I think your sources might have given you the right information, but wait until next week so that we can sit and discuss this matter,” he said.Newly appointed General Manager of Finance Tjiuee Kaura has been tasked with the internal inquiry and he will report directly to the Board.The Namibian could not obtain a copy of the petition but the newspaper is in possession of a copy of a memorandum by Rukoro in which he announced the launching of the investigation to all staff members on January 19.The document makes disturbing reading: it contains very serious allegations against management.”These range from racism, corruption, favouritism and other serious irregularities,” Rukoro wrote.”Given the very serious nature of the allegations and the racist undertones thereof, I have decided to launch a thorough internal investigation as a first step”.He vowed to take “appropriate action” based on the findings of the investigation and to circulate them to the “Concerned Employees” should it be proven that their allegations were true.This would be ” … part of a deliberate policy to encourage whistle-blowing within the company whenever serious irregularities occur”.The Air Namibia chairman then gave the following reasons why he chose Kaura to conduct the investigation: “Given the heavy racial undertones of the allegations, I deemed it appropriate to appoint a black person as investigator.”Being a newly appointed executive, he is, I believe, not implicated in any of the past decisions of top management, some of which are the subject-matter of the proposed investigation”.Kaura joined Air Namibia two months ago from Telecom Namibia.The Namibian has learned from reliable sources that the row has been sparked by the recent appointment of the Acting Manager for Flight Operations. There is apparently a general feeling among some employees that the position was given to a “white person” who only has Grade 10, while “blacks” with better qualifications were overlooked. The airline’s Public Relations and Advertising Manager, Ellison Hijarunguru, reluctantly confirmed the investigation, which started on January 21. “I think your sources might have given you the right information, but wait until next week so that we can sit and discuss this matter,” he said. Newly appointed General Manager of Finance Tjiuee Kaura has been tasked with the internal inquiry and he will report directly to the Board. The Namibian could not obtain a copy of the petition but the newspaper is in possession of a copy of a memorandum by Rukoro in which he announced the launching of the investigation to all staff members on January 19. The document makes disturbing reading: it contains very serious allegations against management. “These range from racism, corruption, favouritism and other serious irregularities,” Rukoro wrote. “Given the very serious nature of the allegations and the racist undertones thereof, I have decided to launch a thorough internal investigation as a first step”. He vowed to take “appropriate action” based on the findings of the investigation and to circulate them to the “Concerned Employees” should it be proven that their allegations were true. This would be ” … part of a deliberate policy to encourage whistle-blowing within the company whenever serious irregularities occur”. The Air Namibia chairman then gave the following reasons why he chose Kaura to conduct the investigation: “Given the heavy racial undertones of the allegations, I deemed it appropriate to appoint a black person as investigator. “Being a newly appointed executive, he is, I believe, not implicated in any of the past decisions of top management, some of which are the subject-matter of the proposed investigation”. Kaura joined Air Namibia two months ago from Telecom Namibia.