Evilastus Kaaronda

Evilastus Kaaronda
Born
Evilastus Kaaronda
NationalityNamibian
OccupationTrade Unionist
Known forWorker's rights

Evilastus Kaaronda is a Namibian trade unionist. He served as the secretary general of the National Union of Namibian Workers (NUNW).[1] In April 2011, an investigation against Kaaronda was launched following allegations of misconduct; specifically, Kaaronda was alleged to have made unauthorized public statements which discredited NUNW-affiliated unions.[2]

Kaaronda is considered a new breed of unionist,[3] that more than compromising workers' interest to be politically complacent with the power structures, maintains an outspoken approach on the many polemic issues that affect the workers. His criticisms include support on a people-oriented Basic Income Grant, skepticism on the precarious short-term labour contracts proposed by the TIPEEG[4] program, demands to hold accountable those who were responsible for the N$600 million Government Institutions Pension Fund (GIPF) lost through botched investments in a series of politically connected start-ups, and ultimately to improve the status of the workers rather than decrease them as incentive for foreign investment.[5]

In 2012, Kaaronda was fired from NUNW alongside its president Elias Manga, citing "gross non-compliance with regard to his duties and responsibilities", the "disunity, division and mistrust" on his part.[6] They were replaced by Connie Pandeni and Alfred Angula.

In 2014, Kaaronda was instrumental in founding the Namibia National Labour Organisation (NANLO).

References

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  1. ^ Kaaronda to be investigated The Namibian, 17 April 2011
  2. ^ Kaaronda under siege New Era, 12 April 2011
  3. ^ "A different breed of unionist". Insight magazine Archived 2022-01-15 at the Wayback Machine, Namibia. July, 2011.
  4. ^ "Targeted Intervention Programme for Employment and Economic Growth" Archived 2011-06-26 at the Wayback Machine, National Planning Commission, 2011.
  5. ^ "The party leaders have forgotten how poor people live" Interview with Evilastus Kaaronda. Insight magazine Archived 2022-01-15 at the Wayback Machine, Namibia. July, 2011.
  6. ^ "Namibia: Evilastus Kaaronda Fired - allAfrica.com".