Windhoek
President Hage Geingob has called on the country’s largest trade union federation, the National Union of Namibian Workers (NUNW), to regain its strength of yesteryear, saying this would help make Swapo and the government stronger.
The NUNW is an affiliate of Swapo and participates in the ruling party’s elective congress.
Geingob made the call on Tuesday while addressing a delegation of NUNW leaders who visited the president at State House.
Geingob is said to have invited the federation to a meeting that lasted for three hours.
The NUNW is the biggest federation in the country, with ten affiliate unions which together boast over 290 000 paid-up members.
“Definitely you are not the same as we were during those days of the struggle; you are getting weaker and if you are getting weaker, the government will be weaker, and Swapo will be weaker,” Geingob told the federation’s leadership.
He also called on NUNW to remain steadfast and focused on its original ideals.
Geingob, who was accompanied by Vice-President Nicky Iyambo, Minister of Labour, Industrial Relations and Employment Creation Erkki Nghimtina, Minister of Mines and Energy Obeth Kandjoze and some special advisors, also explained in detail his ambitious harambee plan for prosperity to the NUNW leaders.
The harambee plan is aimed at turning around the country’s socio-economic fortunes and to make Namibia a new-look society by March 2020.
On his part, NUNW president Ismael Kasuto said it is unfortunate that recent comments in the media had painted a picture of the NUNW attempting to sabotage the Swapo-led government under his leadership.
“We want to reassure you that this is not the case as we have objectives in driving the development programme of the Swapo-led government to the benefit of the citizens of this country,” Kasuto said.
He said the federation’s leadership is where it is today because it wants to contribute to, and be part of, the Namibian journey towards prosperity through harambee, in an attempt to alleviate poverty.
“We trust that our session today will act as a catalyst that will recast the continuous tripartite alliance that will have a solid base for working committees for the purpose of consultative sessions, with various respective government ministries, to address issues affecting the working class,” he said.
Kasuto also asked for clarity on the solidarity tax and the suggested reduction of the early retirement age from 55 to 50. Geingob replied that the presidency is still consulting on both issues.
“Nobody decided 50 as a retirement age, so far nothing has been decided. We are still consulting,” Geingob said.