The Namibia National Farmers' Union (NNFU) says the retrenchment of 60 workers by the Mashare Agri Group is an unfair labour practice that goes against labour law. 

In November, Mashare Agri Group in the Kavango East Region let go of 60 of their permanent workers, who demonstrated against what they deem an "illegal retrenchment".

Speaking to NBC News, Acting General Secretary of the NNFU, Frans Kamati, said the union and the Mashare Agri Group's recognition agreement states that any retrenchments will be dealt with in terms of the retrenchment procedure, which the company failed to do. 

"The company is required to notify the union in writing within 30 days of its intention to retrench. Please, union, since you are the representative of these workers, can you come down so that we can have this kind of meeting? How are we going to do this process? This does not happen."

Kamati alleges that Mashare Agri Group had a meeting with the union's Deputy General Secretary, which was not authorised by the union. 

The outcome of that meeting would eventually lead to retrenchment. 

The Union is also accusing Mashare Agri Group of bribing its Deputy General Secretary since they paid for all his expenses while he was not on official duty. 

The Deputy General Secretary has since been suspended, and an investigation is underway. 

In the meantime, Kamati says the 60 retrenched workers are devastated. 

The union has now registered a case of unfair labour practice with the labour commissioner, with conciliation and arbitration set for the 27th of January. 

Despite the ongoing case, Kamati says the Mashare Agri Group are busy recruiting back the same workers they have retrenched. 

"What's happening at Mashare is an undermining coming from the statistics that we Kavangos are suffering with poverty, and even if they dismiss one of the employees, they know where to get the others, which we cannot allow. I'm humbly requesting my brothers and sisters who are affected, these 60 workers, to be patient so that on the 27th of January, once the case is concluded, we will see what the way forward is." 

The workers who demonstrated against the retrenchment forwarded a petition to the constituency councillor, the Office of the Governor, and the Office of the Prime Minister, calling for the authorities to intervene. 

Approached for comment, the Director of Mashare Agri Group, Albert Basson, told NBC News in a letter that the restructuring process was conducted in accordance with Namibian law, with the professional guidance and support of experienced legal and labour experts. 

Regarding accusations of bribery and rehiring, Basson wrote in an email that Mashare Agri Group would prefer not to go into detail on individual allegations or procedural specifics, saying those are matters that should remain within formal legal and regulatory processes. 

He also says he doesn't believe it's appropriate to debate or try to adjudicate them through the media.

Mashare Agri Group is a large-scale agriculture and irrigation project near Mashare village.  They use water from the Kavango River for their crop production and are also known for producing export-quality blueberries.