N$400 pay for 11 days irks Heroes’ Day volunteers

A group of 99 disgruntled youths who were recruited on a voluntary basis to assist with this year’s Heroes' Day event in Omuthiya say they deserve more than the N$400 they received for their services.

The Heroes' Day event was attended by thousands of people and hailed as a success, but behind the scenes, the volunteers told Namibian Sun over the weekend that they felt exploited.

“We worked long hours and the work load was not easy at all. What will a person do with N$400 in this economy?” members of the group pointed out.

“Those ministers and other government officials from all across the country probably got S&T for coming to Omuthiya and they got way more than us, who had to do the work and ensure that everything went well. Does a caring government really believe that giving a person N$400 for working for so many days is fair?"

Meanwhile, the Office of the Prime Minister underlined that the volunteers were clearly briefed that they would be working on a voluntary basis and not for payment, and that the N$400 was a token of appreciation.

Complaints highlighted

The disgruntled youths received their N$400 payment last week and said they deserved more in return for the hours they put in.

The group argued that, given the high cost of living and the fact that they had to leave their homes daily to assist the government, the amount they received seemed unjust.

They claimed that the 110 volunteers who assisted with catering on the day of the event were paid N$300 while those who worked for 11 days received just N$100 more.

“We understand other regions that hosted this event in the past got thousands of dollars, yet we are given N$400.”

One of the group members claimed Namibian Sun that after they raised their concerns, they received calls from police officers.

“It was very worrisome for me to receive a call from a police officer in regards to this matter. This was an event that was organised through the office of the governor, the regional council, as well as the Office of the Prime Minister. Why am I receiving calls from police officers to go to the office?”

Volunteer work

Meanwhile, Office of the Prime Minister executive director I-Ben Nashandi said there was no agreement for payment and that the N$400 was simply a token of appreciation.

“The volunteers are mobilised to assist with preparatory arrangements on a volunteer basis,” Nashandi explained.

“They are not contracted for payment and working with regional councillors, they are drawn from within constituencies," he added.

“At the start of the enlistment, they are well briefed that they are not working for payment but volunteering their services. However, despite that, they are provided with meals and all working equipment and are guided on work to be done. This work is mostly cleaning, offloading chairs and laying them in order, amongst others," he said.

“With regards to payment of N$400, this is an approved token paid to volunteers for logistics in appreciation of their services. This token is not only applicable to Heroes' Day commemoration in Oshikoto Region, but it is the same token paid in all other state events.”

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