2005-12-12Staff Report 2 PLEASE allow me space to air my views on what is going on with some Namibian companies. If one looks at a company like De Beers, for example, you will find that racism and tribalism is the order of the day: and appointments are solely done on that basis. You will have to be a yes-yes man/woman, white or Oshiwambo-speaking to be recognized in this company. Being vocal unfortunately will never get you anywhere and this might just call for an instant monitoring of all what your activities are, and your character will be severely assassinated hence my writing to this paper. I ask the Government to seriously look into this matter before everything gets out of hand. Apartheid-like tactics are so rampant that it has become the daily norm. Namibians' opportunities when it comes to training is moving at a snail's pace because someone is scared he/she might lose their job. If the idea is to train Namibians, why then do you still find South Africans being trained at the expense of the Namibians, where that had never been the case when De Beers Marine Namibia was still under De Beers South Africa? Why hire the services of a technician from RSA while we have I'm pretty sure so many technicians in Namibia roaming our streets? Even at sea SA's are allowed to work overtime while Namibians are denied that opportunity. Most of the appraisal is given to ships' captains, and you can imagine if one is not in the good books with these captains - you will forever be sidelined and tramped on. Posts are just filled by families that makes me believe what one friend of mine once told me about De Beers being a company which only protects its own interests and not that of the owners of the country it's operating in. Can anyone give me any positive contribution this company has done to the Namibian masses as compared to other companies like NamPower. The answer is definitely none. I suggest an independent commission of inquiry be dispatched to this company to sort out the mess the company is going through for the benefit of all and not for a chosen few, I have in the past witnessed instances where a Namibian who is from Polytechnic/Unam and trained as a Technician or Engineer is hired on a contract basis, only to be forced to do awkward work like scrubbing decks and greasing the engines instead of allowing him/her to further their career by encouraging them and assisting them - they are always looked upon as unqualified just because they are black. That trend must change and we all know that no one was born clever, we all have to learn at some stage and not be hampered by foreigners who just want to protect their own interests. When it comes to appointments, one wonders which criteria are being used. People are hired on a contractual basis while others are straight away employed permanently. This has discouraged many potential Namibians to join this company because no one wants to be employed on a temporary basis while he was a full time worker from where he comes. Training must be seen to be accelerated, otherwise we are going to see situations where Namibians will always have to play second fiddle to South Africans like in the past. Government, take heed and don't say you have never been warned. Disgruntled and Very Concerned 2005-12-12Staff Report 2
