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TransNamib aims to downsize, but hires instead


AS the national railway operator aims to downsize its current staff complement, it has hired new trainees, while offering early retirement packages as a ‘rightsizing’ exercise.

The national railway company continues to be faced with difficulties, as an independent audit report indicates there is no sufficient supporting evidence to prove the current executive oversight and management of TransNamib would result in the envisaged turnaround of the entity.

TransNamib spokesperson Abigail Raubenheimer says the company is continuing with its rightsizing exercise.

TransNamib started a process of voluntary exit at 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 exercise runs parallel with the company hiring trainee train drivers.

Some 30 trainees allegedly showed up at the company last Monday, with no training plan in place, and without the knowledge of training officers.

Raubenheimer, on Friday said the company would issue a statement on the new trainees.

Sources claim only TransNamib’s head, Johny Smith, and human resources executive, Webster Gonzo, were aware of the arrival of the new trainees.

TransNamib also said it has become necessary to reduce its staff complement to right-size the organisation to its present business pattern and structure.

“This exercise forms part of the company’s Integrated Strategic Business Plan, which was approved by our shareholder in 2018,” Raubenheimer said.

Meanwhile, the national railway operator recently experienced a disruption in water services at their head office for a few days.

“The matter has been resolved,” Raubenheimer said.

Concerned employees have expressed their discontentment with the new recruits, alleging they have ties with board members.

“Within the company, it is not allowed to recruit that critical position from outside. You have to grow within the ranks. We questioned where this money came from all of a sudden,” they say.

Economist Omu Kakujaha-Matundu says TransNamib continues to have a culture of no consequences.

“That is so entrenched in this country . . . that a clique of unscrupulous protected few are compromising service delivery and job creation. We have a docile electorate and taxpayers,” he says.

Earlier this month, The Namibian reported that an investigation into TransNamib’s affairs has found that the Ministry of Public Enterprises should take disciplinary action against chief executive officer Johny Smith.

In an independent investigation report seen by The Namibian, Ernst & Young recommends disciplinary action due to Smith’s actions, such as unauthorised bonus payments.

Deputy minister of finance Maureen Hinda-Mbuende has in the past told The Namibian that employees should continue to raise the alarm, and an independent investigation was commissioned by the former minister of public enterprises.

“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 said it was important that the report was acted on. “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.

About a month ago, former TransNamib board chairperson, Lionel Matthews, said the finance ministry needs to optimally deploy N$175 million to the parastatal, in the short term for it to be able to carry out some of its activities.

These funds are needed for the current situation and proposed solutions, for the purchase of shunting locomotives, wagons and tankers, and to release some locomotives for mainline use.





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