Windhoek
Former secretary general of the Namibia Fuel and Allied Workers Union (Nafawu), David Frans, who lost the coveted position of SG in a disputed election, has threatened to take Mahongora Kavihuha to court if the outcome of last month’s congress is not nullified. Kavihuha, who is the secretary general of the Trade Union Congress of Namibia (TUCNA) – the umbrella body, last month held a congress that elected new executive members for Nafawu and Namibia Security Guard Watchmen’s Union (NASGWU) without the unions’ incumbent executive members.
Frans, who lost the Nafawu secretary general position to Phillip Matenge, was among the executive members who were absent when the Nafawu election chaired by Kavihuha was held.
Nafawu and NASGWU are unions affiliated to TUCNA.
“We only learned about this illegal congress upon seeing the letters written by Kavihuha on TUCNA’S letterheads and forged NASGWU and Nafawu letterheads seconded by Kavihuha in his capacity as secretary general, which were send to different employers as well as to the office of the labour commissioner,” said Frans. Frans said Kavihuha’s interference in union matters is illegal and therefore should not be condoned. Contacted for comment, Kavihuha said he is not intervening in the union affairs but was only invited to be part of the congress.
“He (Frans) is failing to understand that he was out-voted at the congress. This gentleman was invited to the congress and he never turned up and the congress went ahead as planned and he was out-voted,” explained Kavihuha. Frans also accuses Kavihuha and a certain Bank Windhoek, Katutura branch employee (name known to New Era) of fraudulently opening a bank account in the name of the union without the union’s certificate of registration and its constitution.
“Kavihuha abused his power and misdirected the employers to transfer the union’s contributions to this newly opened bank account, which was drained upon being deposited,” said Fans. Frans said they have opened a case of theft with the Namibian Police Force, CR Number 324/05/2015, against the Bank Windhoek official, as some of the union funds are alleged to have been deposited into his account. Last month, some NASGWU members accused Frans of disappearing with money belonging to the union. Kavihuha said Frans ran away with union members’ money. However, Frans denied this, saying these were subversive tactics intended to get rid of him.
“If they accuse me of eating union money why don’t they report me to the police,” he asked rhetorically. “This is political propaganda,” he lashed out at his rivals.