Roux still in limbo
The Namibia Economist
Roux still in limbo
Written by Staff Reporters
Friday, 14 September 2007
The fate of the Meatco researcher, who got suspended for expressing a sceptical opinion on the ongoing Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) negotiations in May, is yet to be decided.
Wallie Roux appeared before the disciplinary committee in August and the chairman of that committee is still to announce the verdict, said Meatco’s spokesperson, Uschi Ramakhutla, this week.
Roux was employed by Meatco in its market department. He was suspended following the publication of several articles on the EPA negotiations that are taking place between the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) and the European Union.
These negotiations are scheduled to be concluded by the end of this year.
The articles he wrote had the meat industry throwing toys out of the cot. In the articles, Roux expressed uncertainty on the technicality of an EPA between the EU and SADC.
Meatco says such public comments are in violation of Roux’s contractual agreement with Meatco.
Meatco is the country’s exporter of beef to the EU.
In the opinion pieces, Roux wondered out loud whether Namibia had looked at both pros and cons in negotiating with fellow countries in the region with the aim of getting the best out of the EPA.
He also doubted whether the EPA would be concluded in such a short period of time, and hinted at what he called “severe trade disruptions” may the new agreement not be in place by yearend.
In the meantime, Roux continues his public dialogue on the topic as though in defiance of the steps taken by his employer.
Last month, he took part in the debate organised by the Hanns Seidel Foundation, on a topic titled ’Namibia and the New Scramble for Africa’s Resources’.
The incident that led to his suspension was not the first that saw him clashing with his employer. Before the latest incident, Roux is said to have had been served with warnings and asked to refrain from making public comments on topics that allegedly affected the nature of his employer’s business.
Roux however argues that such steps robbed him of his democratic right to freedom of speech.
A number of international lobby organisations and local institutions, such as the Labour Resources and Research Institute (LaRRI), have expressed their dissatisfaction over Roux’s suspension calling it a draconian action.
“This can only be described as blatant victimisation and a violation of the right to freedom of speech,” LaRRI said in a statement.
Attempts to reach Roux were futile.
