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SERVING THE COASTAL COMMUNITY SINCE 1958 NO6407 FRIDAY 21 NOVEMBER 2014 Tel +264 64 205 854/+264 64 461 866/Fax +264 64 204 813/+264 64 461 824/Website www.namibtimes.net
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Erongo goes solar
Arty Lady docks
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Photo by Bernabé Blaauw
Taxitariefherrie MS Rotterdam in port
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Burglars on the prowl Page 4
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D-Day for Omaruru crisis
Andra on tour
Protesters on the march in Omaruru
Marshallino Beukes Page 17
Pool-toernooi om die draai
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Following the suspension of the entire Omaruru Town Council by the Minister of Regional and Local Government, Housing and Rural Development, (Retired) Major-General Charles Namoloh, on 16 December last year, residents of Omaruru took to the streets on Wednesday, demanding the reinstatement of these councillors. The suspension of the councillors followed after allegations of alleged irregularities, regarding the Council’s activities surfaced. Since then, the Minister appointed a special representative, Mr Linus Garoëb, to run the town’s
administration. The less than 50 protestors handed over a petition to Mr Garoëb on Wednesday, in which they give the Minister 48 hours to respond to their demands. Today is D-day for response to the petition and possible
camping on the municipal premises might follow, should the residents not be satisfied with the outcome. In the petition it is stated that the residents view the Minister’s decision as “the undermining of fundamental principles
of democracy and rule of law.” It further states that the minister’s actions have “violently undermined the Namibian Constitution (chapter 12 article 102).” The Minister is also accused of putting himself in total breach of the oath
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Employees "forced" to work on election day Leandrea Louw The vice-president of the Trade Unions Congress of Namibia (TUCNA), Mr Daniel Imbili, alleged yesterday at a media briefing in Walvis Bay that multi-national companies were failing to grant Namibian workers their right to vote, by forcing them to work on 28 November, the day declared a National holiday, for the National Assembly and Presidential elections. Imbili said in his statements the TUCNA federation alleged they had received calls from their union members, from all over the country, complaining of being denied their democratic right to go and cast their votes for the upcoming elections next week. “The multinational companies are all from South Africa and some from Namibia. They were all invited by the Electoral Commission of Namibia co-ordinator to attend the consultative meeting on Monday, 10 November, in Walvis Bay, and again on Monday the 17th, in Swakopmund, but many failed to attend. The workers received letters and emails this week stating they had to report for duty, and by failing to adhere to those instructions, they would face disciplinary action and dismissal. “Some of the giant stores extended the working hours up to 19:00. When will the workers have time to go and cast their votes? Why don’t they look at letting their workers work half day or two separate shifts from 08:00 to 13:00 and 13:00 to 19:00 if they indeed care and respect the
Namibian Law. Minister Joel Kaapanda made this clear on TV to employers to take note of the importance of this day and why it was declared a public holiday, and why every Namibian have to express his or her democratic right, by taking part in this day, as this day only comes once every five years. Unions and workers are experiencing a lot of problems with this multinational companies and some local companies when it comes to conditions of employment and other benefits and labour laws are being violated.’’ “This is something that is contradicting the Namibian Labour Act 11 of 2007 and we have lodged a complaint to the office of the Minister of Labour, but we are still waiting on a response from them.’’ “Our request is now for the lawmakers to make an urgent request to all retail stores to refrain from hindering their employers to go and vote with immediate effect. This is not the first time workers are suffering even on Good Fridays and on Christmas Day employees are forced to perform their designated duties.
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