Niël Terblanché
The Mine Workers Union of Namibia’s (MUN) western regional office has raised serious concerns over what it describes as unconstitutional activities initiated by the union’s Head Office Administration.
According to Abiud Kapere, chairman of the MUN’s western region, these actions have been undertaken without the mandate of the National Executive Committee (NEC) and are in direct violation of the MUN Constitution.
In a statement on Wednesday, Kapere reiterated that the issuance of disciplinary enquiry notices by a MUN staff member against union members concerning matters related to structural activities represents a grave breach of members’ constitutional rights.
“The western region has also noted the alarming silence from the NEC regarding these arbitrary actions, which we believe signifies complicity and a failure to uphold the union’s constitutional principles,” he said.
Kapere cited Article 13 of the MUN Constitution, which mandates that the NEC ensure compliance with the Constitution and protect members’ rights.
“By remaining silent, the NEC is seen as abdicating its responsibility and becoming complicit in the ongoing constitutional violations,” he added.
According to Kapere, the western region is committed to accountability, constitutional compliance, and transparency.
Kapere stressed that the region demands strict adherence to the MUN Constitution at all levels of the union.
He expressed concern over the misuse of membership fees to convene unauthorised NEC meetings aimed at targeting members with dissenting views.
Kapere condemned the usage of the union funds to finance legal battles against members, describing it as a tactic to silence opposition and prevent members from participating in leadership structures that promote accountability.
“This imbalance is not only unjust but also a clear conflict of interest,” Kapere said while pointing to the fact that many current leadership figures have benefitted from questionable transactions.
He said these transactions were supposed to be scrutinised following a resolution passed at the May 2023 Congress, which called for a forensic audit and an extraordinary congress to be held within six months.
“However, the implementation of this resolution has been delayed, with no sign of the promised Extraordinary Congress by the end of August 2024,” he added.
The western region, according to Kapere, demands that the congress convene no later than November 2024.
He warned that failure to do so would force the regional office to take legal or other appropriate action.
Kapere dismissed the excuse of insufficient funds and the restricted NAMIT Trust account as unacceptable.
“The MUN Constitution does not allow for the Trust to fund the union’s operational activities, and using Trust funds for the Extraordinary Congress is seen as another attempt to misuse resources meant for the Trust’s beneficiaries,” he stated.
Four other regions have joined the western region in calling for an extraordinary congress.
“The NEC’s reluctance to comply with this demand, coupled with what the Western Region describes as “baseless excuses,” will not deter the region from advocating for governance and accountability in line with the Congress Resolution,” Kapere maintained.
He said that the western region distanced itself from the “unfounded and baseless” allegations made by the General Secretary regarding union-busting activities at Husab.
Kapere stated that these claims were never raised by the Branch to the Region or the NEC and are viewed as a deliberate attempt to destabilise the Western Region.
He urged all members to stay focused on the goal of holding the Extraordinary Congress, highlighting that it is illogical for leaders elected by over 700 members to be removed by a select few, particularly when considering the cost implications for members.
“The Western Region remains united and determined to uphold the principles of transparency, accountability, and constitutional compliance,” he said.
Kapere called on all patriotic union members to take an active role in directing the organisation for the benefit of all.
The MUN acting vice president, Shavuka Mbidhi, confirmed that the leadership has received the letter and will respond to the western region in the coming days.
