Crippling strike averted

The Namibian Government has struck a deal that will see N$924m (R924m) flowing to the country's civil servants. The deal averts a national strike that 42 000 civil servants voted in favour of last week. The Namibian reports that President Hage Geingob was praised by Swapo-affilated negotiating unions for cancelling overseas trips to Jamaica and Cuba last week to deal with the impending strike. Civil servants will get a 3% increase on their basic salaries, an 11% increase on their housing benefit for non-management, and a 14% increase in their transport benefit. Their employer's contribution to their pension fund will increase by 3%. The government struck this deal with Namibian Public Workers Union and the Namibia National Teachers Union. The Namibian Presidency said the drought and the pandemic, which cost the government N$1.5 m and N$2bn respectively has cost the country dearly.