Rundu polling officials threaten boycott over low wages

Polling officials in Rundu have issued a 24-hour ultimatum to the Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN) to adjust their pay or face a boycott of the upcoming elections.The protest, held on Sunday, arose from a dispute over a N$150 daily training allowance and escalated to disruptions at training centres and the withdrawal of other officials from sessions.Group spokesperson Peter Kamwi expressed dissatisfaction with the remuneration, saying it does not adequately reflect the responsibilities polling officers are expected to carry out on election day."The money we are being paid is too little. It’s not enough, especially considering Namibia&#039;s high unemployment rate. Many of us have been unemployed for years, and now that we are hired as temporary officials, we are only paid N$150 per day during training," Kamwi said.He added that the amount barely covers daily expenses such as meals. "We have expenses and responsibilities. We demand better pay to improve our lives. Some of us want to start businesses because there are no job opportunities elsewhere.”Long list of complaintsKamwi also highlighted the risks associated with their roles."As presiding officers, we face potential jail time for mistakes, yet the pay doesn’t match the level of responsibility. For the dual elections, we demand separate salaries for the presidential and National Assembly polls,” he said. The officials criticised inadequate provisions during training, such as an alleged lack of lunch breaks, meals and accommodation, and proposed increases to N$300 per day for training and N$3 000 for the presidential and National Assembly elections.The group also accused some senior officials of abusive behaviour. "They use threats to silence us, making it hard to raise concerns during training. We deserve respect as adults working to improve our lives," Kamwi claimed.Officials were allegedly locked in a hall and barred from voicing concerns or participating in the boycott. "This violates our freedom of speech in a country like Namibia," Kamwi added.The group also condemned discrimination against disabled individuals, citing an incident where a qualified colleague was allegedly deemed unfit to serve as a presiding officer due to their disability.Contract questionsKamwi further criticised a lack of clarity in their contracts. "We were forced to sign contracts that misrepresent our roles, with everyone labelled as ‘polling officer’. The pay structure was only disclosed two days ago," he said.The daily remuneration of N$710 to N$865 for polling day was also deemed inadequate given the long hours, from 07:00 to 21:00, with no meals or accommodation provided.The group’s demands include immediate salary adjustments, an end to alleged mistreatment and intimidation and respect for constitutional rights, including freedom of speech."If these issues are not addressed within 24 hours, we will cease work and boycott the elections. We have organised via WhatsApp to coordinate this action," Kamwi said.Meanwhile, polling officials in Otavi echoed these grievances, accusing the ECN of unfair labour practices. They alleged that their daily payment was reduced from N$670 to N$476 and claimed the N$150 training allowance remains unpaid despite the conclusion of training.ECN seeks resolutionsECN spokesperson De Wet Siluka yesterday said “while the commission understands the financial pressures expressed by these officials, it is important to note that the disputed allowance subject of the reported grievance was clearly stated in the advertised call for applications. It therefore goes without saying that applicants responding to this call accepted these terms upon selection and became contractually bound."Siluka added: “The commission nevertheless wishes to inform all polling officials that it is attending to the matter and the grievances raised, with the intention of reaching an amicable solution. The commission wishes to assure all electoral stakeholders that this issue is receiving the highest level of attention."He said the commission remains committed to conducting free, fair and credible elections and that preparations are proceeding as planned.“We urge all stakeholders to maintain confidence in the commission&#039;s readiness to fulfil its mandate. We extend our gratitude to all polling officials for their dedication and hard work in ensuring the success of the elections,” he said.nikanor@erongo.com.na#NamibiaDecides2024

Rundu polling officials threaten boycott over low wages

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Namibian Sun 2024-11-25

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Rundu polling officials threaten boycott over low wages

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Namibian Sun 2024-11-25

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