Confusion over top cop eviction
Confusion reigned at the weekend over a government property situated some three kilometres north of Gobabis after the Namibian Defence Force (NDF) descended on the piece of land with the view to evict Omaheke police chief Andreas Haingura.
On Friday morning defence military trucks were seen at the property reportedly acting on a court eviction order that was handed to Haingura late last year.
New Era understands the property, which is within the army camp, is allocated to the ministry of safety and security, however, the water and electricity accounts are billed to the ministry of defence, resulting in the confusion.
Informantè reported Saturday that an army of military personnel arrived at the property around 4am on Friday and cut off Haingura’ s water and electricity without warning or an explanation.
They also blocked the entry to the property with military vehicles and set up tents on the property to keep a close eye on the regional police chief and his family after he failed to comply with an eviction notice, the online paper reported on Friday.
Contacted for clarity yesterday, Haingura without any reason, refused to comment on the matter.
However, police chief Sebastian Ndeitunga confirmed the issue, saying the matter is now being dealt with by the executive directors of the ministries of works, safety and security and defence.
“I am on leave but what I understand is that although we were allocated the property by the ministry of works, the water and electricity bill was being paid by the defence ministry. The issue is being resolved by executive directors of the three ministries right now,” Ndeitunga said yesterday upon enquiry.
“We have the allocation letter from the works ministry but as I said, speak to the three executive directors, they will be able to tell you more.”
At the weekend, the executive director of the National Society for Human Rights Phil ya Nangoloh in a statement said NDF members, whom he accused of taking the law into their own hands to evict Haingura from the property, should face legal consequences for their actions.
“NDF only has powers, duties and functions to independently conduct military operations against external objects or enemies ,” said the outspoken Ya Nangoloh.
“In light of the alleged highly seditious if not treasonous acts, Minister of Defence and Chief of Namibian Defence as well as Army Commander must ensure that those subordinate officers and their regional commanders face the severest punishment as prescribed by relevant law,” Ya Nangoloh added.
When contacted for comment yesterday, ministry of defence spokesperson Colonel Petrus Shilumbu referred all questions to his deputy Hendrik Swartbooi, saying he was attending a workshop.
Swartbooi yesterday did not answer calls nor did he respond to messages sent to him.