Nafau leadership accused of clinging to power

The current leadership of the Namibia Food and Allied Workers Union (Nafau) allegedly wants to remain in office, with no elections to take place at the upcoming elective congress.

Nafau held its last elective congress in 2016, with the current leadership’s term of office having ended in 2020.

The current leadership consists of Mike Karupu (president), Abiud Tjipangandjara (deputy president), Jacob Penda (general secretary), Willem Absalom (deputy general secretary), Beaty Shanyengange (treasurer) and her deputy Jennetha Kapere.

Attempts to host a congress were put on hold, with Penda citing covid-19 regulations as the reason. A new date for the 11th national Congress has been set but not specified to members.

In a letter dated 11 October, Penda instructed regional coordinators, chairpersons, branch chairpersons and organisers not to host any meeting related to the congress.

“All instructions related to the congress are issued by the office of the general secretary,” he said.

A follow-up letter was sent on last week seen by The Namibian, in which Penda threatened union staff members with unspecified actions should they attempt to hold any meetings with members.

Penda said Nafau received letters from the regions about congress preparations, condemning the decision taken by the branch executive committees and regional executive committees structures.

“Whoever is busy misleading them should stop immediately upon receiving this letter before actions are taken against those individuals,” reads the letter.

Penda has not responded to messages sent to him via WhatsApp or returned calls made to his mobile phone. In a letter sent to the Outapi branch, Penda noted that Johannes Nghikongwa should not be elected into any position of Nafau’s structures. “He is causing division within the union structures among leaders, as well as employees of the union,” said Penda. Nghikongwa confirmed having received the letter.

“I asked them why, because Penda didn’t elect me. I was elected by my fellow workers. I even asked where in the Nafau constitution does he get his powers to tell the people who they should elect?” Nghikongwa claimed only branch organisers in favour of Penda are invited to attend the congress.

“They told us that the national executive committee (NEC) and central executive committee (CEC) can do what they want,” he said.

The communication by Penda has been widely condemned by the different branches, with the Oshikango, Outapi, Ondangwa, Rehoboth and Gobabis branches having raised objections around enforcing the current leadership. “We are having our candidates that we are going to stand at the coming congress. It is the members who elect their leaders, not the NEC or the CEC,” said Simon Mukosho of the Rehoboth branch.

The Gobabis branch noted: “We are not happy with the way the NEC wants to reaffirm the current leadership to be the only candidates of the upcoming national congress. We want to be given an opportunity to exercise our democratic right by electing the candidates of our choice.” Former CEC member Reinhold Shipwikineni said he will instruct his lawyers on Monday (today) to demand that Penda stops threatening members.

“If he continues with the threats, we will approach the High Court … Some of the members can take over and act in those positions,” he said.

Trade union consultant Cuana Angula described what the leadership is doing as illegal and advised members to approach the High Court to have them removed.

“The constitution does not have a provision about endorsement of leaders. It says they must be nominated and elected. If a motion not to hold an election is tabled, that motion must be debated and agreed upon by the congress.”
Angula said all Nafau staff should be allowed to attend the congress. If they cannot attend, the general secretary and his deputy should also not attend, as they are also full-time administrative staff of the union.
He said Nafau members can approach the court to appoint a convener for the congress.