Dear sisters and brothers,

A STRUGGLE FOR STOLEN PENSION FUNDS IN NAMIBIA

YOUR SOLIDARITY IS NEEDED

The Combined Committee of TCL workers and the Workers Advice Centre in Namibia (the “Combined Committee”) is leading a relentless struggle to recover N$800 million (80 million euros) of their pension fund stolen by the employer, Tsumeb Corporation Ltd (TCL) and others. The committee registered and represents more than 4000 former mineworkers of TCL, a subsidiary of Gold Fields South Africa. They are now impoverished with many of them unemployed.

As you can see from the attached statements, the copper miners and smelters have faced political and judicial collusion in the theft and have done everything in their power to achieve a positive settlement for their struggle.

They now plan an indefinite protest including a march in central Windhoek from 7 November 2012 to demand a date of hearing from the High Court of Namibia.

These workers need support from the trade union and socialist movement in the UK and Europe. The government and the judiciary in Namibia are extremely sensitive to international opinion, and statements from labour movement figures and organisations, civil rights activists and legal experts here carry great weight.

Please study the attached documents and do what is needed to support this essential struggle.

We have established an ad hoc group to campaign on this issue because of personal and political contacts we have in Nambia. However, we also feel it is high time there was an organised campaign of solidarity in the UK with workers and socialist in Namibia. We invite you to join us in establishing such a campaign.

Bronwen Handyside (Vice Chair of Unite's London & Eastern Region; Chair Unite  L&E 524 branch. In a personal capacity)

Bob Archer (President, Redbridge Association, NUT. In a personal capacity)

Hackney Law Centre