PM rebukes NUNW leader

PRIME Minister Nahas Angula has brushed off as “arrogance and insult” a personal attack on him by a labour union leader with regard to the salaries paid to executives at state-owned enterprises.

“The conditions of service of Chief Executive Officers of the state-owned enterprises were approved by Cabinet. These conditions were determined before the current Prime Minister was a Prime Minister,” a hard-hitting press statement issued by Angula yesterday afternoon, said.Government was currently developing conditions of service for CEOs employed by parastatals based on performance, he said.”Mr Evilastus Kaaronda of the National Union of Namibian Workers (NUNW), in his characteristic fashion of a running dog, made wild assertions against my person.He must take note that like many other running dogs before him, those who incite him to launch unwarranted attacks on other people will use him and drop him when convenient,” the Prime Minister stated.NUNW Secretary General Evilastus Kaaronda on Wednesday launched a scathing attack against the Prime Minister at a media briefing.He claimed Angula was “carefree and extremely insensitive” to the plight of Namibian workers.According to Kaaronda, many parastatals made losses, did not perform, retrenched workers and were not reined in by Government.”It is clear that the Prime Minister omitted to remember his legal duties under the State-Owned Enterprises Act which among others is to submit to Cabinet any proposed restructuring plans prepared and approved by the Council,” Kaaronda said.In his response, Angula lashed out at the NUNW official.”Mr Kaaronda should know that the very trade union which employs him was founded by Swapo leaders before he even thought of joining it.To use it as a platform of insulting Swapo leaders and cadres is the highest form of arrogance.The Swapo party is deeply rooted in the workers’ interest and rights.The Swapo Government cannot, therefore, betray the workers’ interests,” the Prime Minister said.According to Angula, the high unemployment rate in Namibia, which was also criticised by the NUNW, was a great concern to the Government.”It is for this reason that the Vocational Training Act was recently passed by Parliament.”The new law provides for a training levy to be paid by companies, which will be used to fund training programmes for unemployed youth, the Prime Minister stated.These conditions were determined before the current Prime Minister was a Prime Minister,” a hard-hitting press statement issued by Angula yesterday afternoon, said.Government was currently developing conditions of service for CEOs employed by parastatals based on performance, he said.”Mr Evilastus Kaaronda of the National Union of Namibian Workers (NUNW), in his characteristic fashion of a running dog, made wild assertions against my person.He must take note that like many other running dogs before him, those who incite him to launch unwarranted attacks on other people will use him and drop him when convenient,” the Prime Minister stated.NUNW Secretary General Evilastus Kaaronda on Wednesday launched a scathing attack against the Prime Minister at a media briefing. He claimed Angula was “carefree and extremely insensitive” to the plight of Namibian workers.According to Kaaronda, many parastatals made losses, did not perform, retrenched workers and were not reined in by Government.”It is clear that the Prime Minister omitted to remember his legal duties under the State-Owned Enterprises Act which among others is to submit to Cabinet any proposed restructuring plans prepared and approved by the Council,” Kaaronda said.In his response, Angula lashed out at the NUNW official.”Mr Kaaronda should know that the very trade union which employs him was founded by Swapo leaders before he even thought of joining it.To use it as a platform of insulting Swapo leaders and cadres is the highest form of arrogance.The Swapo party is deeply rooted in the workers’ interest and rights.The Swapo Government cannot, therefore, betray the workers’ interests,” the Prime Minister said.According to Angula, the high unemployment rate in Namibia, which was also criticised by the NUNW, was a great concern to the Government.”It is for this reason that the Vocational Training Act was recently passed by Parliament.”The new law provides for a training levy to be paid by companies, which will be used to fund training programmes for unemployed youth, the Prime Minister stated.