Skorpion workers march for leader

WITHDRAW disciplinary charges against our chairman or face our wrath, was the message of Skorpion Zinc mineworkers at a demonstration at the mine yesterday.

The workers were protesting against misconduct charges brought against Michaelino Kadikwa, local branch chairman of the Mineworkers Union of Namibia.Kadikwa faces charges of insubordination and defaming the company’s name. The charge of defamation stems from a statement made to the media over alleged irregularities in granting work permits to foreign workers. The insubordination charge relates to unspecified remarks allegedly made by Kadikwa to his superior during a meeting between company management and the union. A disciplinary hearing is expected to be held soon. In a petition handed to Skorpion Zinc General Manager Dave Bently, the protesting workers claimed the charges against Kadikwa were ‘fabricated’ and bordered on victimisation of Namibian workers. The petition called for the immediate removal of Kobus Mathys Loubser as the company’s Human Resources Manager. The workers accused him of being behind an ‘anti-Namibian campaign’ aimed at denying qualified Namibians appointments to managerial positions at the company. The protesters said discriminatory practices would not be tolerated.’Therefore we want to make our position very clear that an injury to one is an injury to all,’ the petition reads. The workers also warned of unspecified action should the company fail to meet their demands. Skorpion’s Communications Manager, Eve Black, said in a statement shortly after the march that the company considered the Kadikwa matter as internal. She said workers’ concerns had been noted and would be forwarded to the officers presiding over the disciplinary hearing.The media were barred from entering the company’s premises to cover the protest march. After handing the petition to Bently, the protesters picketed at the entrance to the mine. luqman@namibian.com.na