Tough time for top cops as political pressure piles

Written by Patience Nyangove, Max Hamata in Windhoek and Merja Iileka in Oshakati

Thursday, 05 November 2009

POLITICAL pressure is piling up on the Namibian Police to clampdown on the force’s top cops believed to be sympathetic to the opposition party, Rally for Democracy and Progress (RDP).



This comes in the wake of recent death and transfer threats on the Oshana and Wanaheda police chiefs.

The latest police political casualty is Wanaheda Police head, Chief Inspector Andreas Nelumbu, who is facing an impending transfer from Namibia’s largest police station on suspicion of being an RDP sympathiser.

Although it is not clear why several death threats have been levelled against the Oshana Regional Commander, Chief Ndahangwapo Kashihakumwa, it is suspected that the threats are of a political nature.

With a few weeks remaining before the National Assembly and Presidential elections kick off, there has been mounting pressure on Police Inspector General Sebastian Ndeitunga to whip some of his top cops into towing the ruling party’s line.

Sources within the upper police echelons told Informanté that Ndeitunga is under undue political pressure to move some of his level-headed top cops in areas mainly viewed as political battlefronts between the Swapo Party and the RDP.

Ndeitunga has, however, told Informanté that he is not aware of Nelumbu’s transfer saying if he was going to be transferred, it would not be political.

“I don’t dictate or investigate which political party members of the force should (one) be aligned to as long as they don’t bring politics into their work. Nelumbu is a hardworking police officer and if he is being transferred it’s not linked to politics,” Ndeitunga said.

Nelumbu said he was aware of some senior government people who were linking him to the RDP and that he knows the people behind the smear campaign but refused to divulge their names.

“I have heard of those rumours. I am aware of it all. I have names of those who are behind that. I will dwell on that at the appropriate time,” Nelumbu said.

However, reliable sources have linked the issue of Nelumbu’s transfer to the arrest of a senior Swapo member (name provided) for drunken driving on two occasions by Wanaheda police.

They also say the transfer was a revenge on Nelumbu for the May 2008 disruption of an RDP branch meeting by Wanaheda Police when several RDP supporters were driven to their homes for fear they might be assaulted by Swapo activists.

A source close to the issue who spoke to Informanté on condition of anonymity said it was so bad that Nelumbu, whom he described as a level headed and hard working police officer, was being treated in such a way.

“These people are seeking revenge and it’s not nice the way they are crucifying Nelumbu.”