Workers union tells Geingob to cut uncontrolled spending, not civil servants – The Namibian

NATIONAL Union of Namibian Workers (NUNW) acting president Phillip Munenguni has called on president Hage Geingob to start cutting uncontrolled spending before considering laying off civil servants.

Munenguni was reacting to Geingob’s advice on cutting the number of government employees by half to ensure decent salaries for those remaining.

“I have no problem with the government cutting those who are not doing anything, as civil servants, as well as ghost employees in government, but I want the president to be reminded of his expansion of parliament seats, unnecessary ministries and state-owned enterprises, as well as dormant advisers,” said Munenguni.

Munenguni also pointed at the corruption within Geingob’s administration, which he alleged is done through uncontrolled spending, travelling and the awarding of tenders.

According to him, the administration would not have had financial problems if Geingob was acting on corruption by appointing a commission to investigate tender corruption within the government.

Munenguni also wants to see Geingob finding ways to recover the lost money through the Government Institutions Pension Fund and the SME Bank.

He said the country has enough resources, which if utilised correctly will ensure no Namibian suffers.

“What did he do for the past seven-and-a-half years in office? Botswana has about 120 000 civil servants but they have no problem with it because their resources are properly utilised and not relying on tax collections. Why should Namibians suffer, like we have no fish, diamonds, uranium, copper, gold, lithium, zinc?”