Niël Terblanché
The National Executive Committee (NEC) of the Mineworkers Union of Namibia (MUN) has responded with concern and disappointment to a media statement allegedly issued by the union’s Western Region office under the leadership of Abiud Kapere.
The union’s acting president, Mathews Mberiuana, in a statement released on Friday, accused Kapere of making “calculatedly misleading” claims intended to sow discord within the union and challenge its foundational principles.
Mberiuana condemned Kapere’s statement, saying that it contains serious allegations that could foster regionalism and undermine the internal social cohesion that the MUN is committed to as a member-centric organisation.
The union’s acting president expressed bewilderment at Kapere’s motives, noting that his claims are not only fabricated but also appear to be a deliberate attempt to mislead the public and union members, thereby destabilising the union’s governance processes.
“The NEC took particular exception to Kapere’s interpretation of the MUN’s constitutional provisions, pointing out that as a seasoned member of both the National and Regional Executive Committees, Kapere should be well-versed in the union’s operational procedures,” he said.
Mberiuana explained that the general secretary acted within his mandate when inviting individuals to a planned NEC meeting, contrary to Kapere’s assertions that the general secretary exceeded his authority.
In addressing Kapere’s claims regarding the alleged denial of legal assistance to union members, Mberiuana stressed that the union has a service-level agreement with Legal Wise, covering paid-up members for labour disputes up to N$250 000.
He also refuted Kapere’s claims that an extraordinary congress should have been convened within a specified timeframe, clarifying that such a decision was deferred due to pending legal challenges.
Moreover, Mberiuana accused Kapere of attempting to frustrate the financial oversight processes agreed upon during the National Congress of May 2023, where a forensic audit was mandated.
“Efforts to gather relevant financial information have been met with hostility from Kapere and former MUN President Ismael Kasuto, which the NEC suspects is an attempt to conceal financial misconduct,” he said.
Mberiuana reiterated its commitment to constitutional compliance and warned against any attempts to sow disunity within the union.
He said that the committee expressed its resolve to investigate allegations of improper conduct by NEC members, particularly in relation to the unauthorised withdrawal of N$250 000 from the Namibian Miners Investment Trust (NAMIT), an act allegedly sanctioned by Kasuto after his removal from office.
Mberiuana said the union is dedicated to maintaining a unified and constitutionally compliant union.
He condemned any external or internal efforts to undermine the union’s integrity, vowing to address such challenges within the framework of the MUN’s constitutional provisions.
