WINDHOEK – About 50 disgruntled workers at Windhoeker Maschinenfabrik are demanding the removal of Production and Assembly Manager, Hannes Kogl, Finance and Human Resource Manager Erven Haimbondi and Assistant Finance Manager Brigitte Luiperth.
The workers specifically accuse Luiperth of being responsible for the financial crisis that has beseiged the company.
“The company is finding itself facing a bleak and uncertain future because of the mismanagement of funds and lack of accountability by these three managers that are entrusted with the finances of the company,” said one of the workers who took to the streets last week Friday at midday to picket and present the company management with a petition listing their grievances. They gave management two weeks to address the issues raised.
The unhappy workers further accuse the three managers of enriching themselves at the expense of the company.
The other issues grieving workers are an alleged lack of respect towards fellow workers, delaying capital projects, intimidation of workers, discrimination, nepotism and favouritism.
The managing director, Victor Simunja, told New Era he still had to go through the petition before he could talk about it to the media.
“Right now it is still here, I don’t know what the content is apart from what they said. If need be I will forward it to the shareholder which is the Ministry of Defence,” he added.
Windhoeker Maschinenfabrik is a subsidiary of the August 26 Holding Company, the Ministry of Defence’s commercial arm. The company designs and manufactures mine and ballistic protected vehicles (MPVs), and other armament products as well as does research and development for the Namibian Defence Force.