Windhoek
The former National Union of Namibian Workers (NUNW) acting secretary general Alfred Angula has accused the federation of unfair labour practices.
The federation in 2013 suspended Angula on full pay pending the outcome of the court case in which Angula was alleged to have defrauded the Namibian Farmworkers Union (Nafwu) of donor funds exceeding N$1.2 million.
But the prosecutor general Martha Imalwa in May this year declined to prosecute Angula and all charges against him were withdrawn.
Speaking to this newspaper yesterday, Angula said the NUNW in April decided stop his monthly salary without notifying him.
“This organisation is supposed to fight for the rights of workers but this is the way they treat workers,” said Angula.
Documents availed to New Era indicate that the NUNW terminated Angula’s medical aid on grounds he resigned, which according to him is an indication NUNW is dishonest about the whole saga.
“In a proper organisation one will receive a termination of employment letter but in this case nothing of that nature was done,” said Angula.
Angula says that in June he wrote a letter to the NUNW to enquire about his unpaid salary and the federation responded that the NUNW’s 6th congress elected new office-bearers and it was against that background that the federation decided to terminate his employment.
“I am not satisfied with their response – why didn’t they invite me to the congress, why was there no communication when the alleged fraud was withdrawn?” questioned Angula. Contacted for comment yesterday NUNW president Ismael Kasuto refused to answer questions put to him, saying that he however took note of the allegations made against the federation by the former secretary general.
“Any current or former NUNW leader deserves respect and a dignified exit from the federation because of their individual contribution in their own way, which crafted our existence as of current and we would want to maintain that respect,” said Kasuto.
The 48-year-old unionist was arrested in 2013 by the police and spent over a week in the Wanaheda police holding cells until he successfully applied for bail of N$50 000.
Angula was alleged to have committed fraud when he was at Nafwu during the period of January 31 to December 31, 2012 while serving as the secretary general of the farm workers’ union.
He was the secretary general of Nafwu until July 2011, when he took up the position of acting secretary general of the NUNW following the unceremonious departure of outspoken unionist Evilastus Kaaronda.