Windhoek — AIR Namibia yesterday claimed that a Republican Party statement that the airline is a major disaster risk was infested with racial undertones and a direct assault on the country's affirmative action (AA) policy.

Managing Director Kosmas Egumbo accused RP president Henk Mudge of "blatant racist statements" and claimed it was because a relative of Mudge's had unsuccessfully applied for a job at the national airline.

Egumbo made these statements at a media briefing in Windhoek.

Last week Mudge alleged that Air Namibia was a major disaster risk because of nepotism, mismanagement, a lack of financial discipline, double standards, the fast-tracking of pilots not capable of adhering to the responsibilities expected of them and low staff morale.

The RP leader further claimed that several under-qualified black personnel had been appointed to key positions because of the AA policy and this posed a major disaster risk to the airline's operations.

Egumbo said Mudge's allegations that the airline lacked safety was unfounded and could have far-reaching consequences because Air Namibia undertook flights to European countries.

"These irresponsible statements are tantamount to sabotage of the country's economy and we call upon all patriotic Namibians of all backgrounds to condemn them with the contempt they deserve," he said.

Mudge claimed that Air Namibia had appointed a Zimbabwean Ben Dawa as General Manager: Flight Operations while there were many well trained Namibians.

According to the RP leader, the airline had also lowered the qualification standards for the position of flight operations senior manager to suit a preferred candidate.

Egumbo said appointments for all senior and technical positions were cleared with the Directorate of Civil Aviation, which regulated the industry performance.

He said all senior personnel in technical positions had experience of more than 20 years in the industry.

Dawa not only qualified for the position but was the cheapest in terms of a salary while suitably qualified whites were way above what the company could afford.

Egumbo claimed that the RP leader was particularly angered by the fact that his relative had failed to make the grade.

Although Mudge's relative was an excellent pilot, he was not suitably qualified for the managerial position, according tfo Egumbo.

He also said that Mudge should have declared a conflict of interest because of his relative's unsuccessful application, instead of allegedly pretending that he was making statements in the interest of national airline safety.

The Air Namibia MD said the company had an excellent safety record, which had seen their insurance costs reduced by 34 per cent over the last three years as a result.

He said the company had lost four pilots over the last 12 months as they had preferred to move the greener pastures.

To keep their pilots, Egumbo said, the company reviewed its retention strategy on a regular basis while training for young pilots was intensified.

"We are proud to say that the process of transformation will continue and more black Namibians will enter and establish themselves in the aviation industry as vacancies occur," he said.