The national railway operator is trying to reduce its staff. It has hired new trainees and offered early retirement plans as a ‘rightsizing exercise’.
The national railway company continues to face difficulties. An independent audit report shows that there isn’t enough supporting evidence to show that TransNamib’s current executive oversight or management would result in the desired turnaround.
Abigail Raubenheimer, spokesperson at TransNamib, says that the company continues with its rightsizing process.
TransNamib initiated a voluntary exit process towards the end of 2021.
“The rightsizing exercise was necessitated by TransNamib Holdings Limited experiencing a substantial decline in cargo volumes, as well as some positions becoming redundant as a result of certain services, like road operations, having been discontinued,” she says.
This is done in parallel with the company’s hiring of trainee drivers.
According to reports, around 30 trainees arrived at the company last Monday without a training plan or knowledge from training officers.
Raubenheimer stated Friday that the company would issue a statement regarding the new trainees.
Sources claim that only Johny, TransNamib’s head, and Webster Gonzo, the human resources executive were aware about the arrival of the new trainees.
TransNamib said that it is necessary to reduce its staff in order to make the organisation more compatible with its current business model and structure.
“This exercise forms part of the company’s Integrated Strategic Business Plan, which was approved by our shareholder in 2018,” Raubenheimer said.
In the meantime, the national railway operator experienced a disruption to water services at their head offices for a few days.
“The matter has been resolved,” Raubenheimer said.
Concerned employees expressed dissatisfaction at the new recruits, alleging there are ties with board members.
“Within the company, it is not allowed to recruit that critical position from outside. You must grow within the ranks. We questioned where this money came from all of a sudden,” they say.
Omu Kakujaha – Matundu, economist, believes TransNamib will continue to have a culture without consequences.
“That is so entrenched in this country . . . A small group of untrustworthy protected few is compromising job creation and service delivery. We have a docile electorate and taxpayers,” he says.
The Namibian reported earlier this month that TransNamib’s affairs were investigated by The Namibian and that the Ministry of Public Enterprises had recommended that Johny Smith, chief executive officer, be disciplined.
In an independent investigation report seen by The Namibian, Ernst & Young recommends disciplinary action due to Smith’s actions, such as unauthorised bonus payments.
Maureen HindaMbuende, the deputy minister of finance, told The Namibian in the past that employees should continue to raise alarms. An independent investigation was ordered by the former minister.
“The independent investigator issued an interim/draft report which it shared with the then minister, and subsequently a final report was handed over to the then minister in Febuary 2022,” she said.
She stated that it was vital that the report is implemented. “It is imperative that consequence management is administered without fear or favour – especially when it is at the doorstep of the Ministry of Finance, to avoid any wrong signal it may create,” Hinda-Mbuende said.
Lionel Matthews, former TransNamib board Chairperson, stated that the finance ministry should optimally deploy N$175million to the parastatal within the next month to enable it to perform some of its activities.
These funds are required to address the current and future needs, as well as to purchase wagons, tankers, and shunting locomotives.
Source: namibian