President’s Security ‘Compromised’

Toivo Ndjebela

27 June 2011

Windhoek — The personal security of President Hifikepunye Pohamba and Founding President Dr Sam Nujoma, among others, would be compromised if Head of the VIP Protection Division Commissioner Christoph Nakanyala, continues to serve in that position.

This is the view of the Inspector-General of the Namibian Police, Sebastian Ndeitunga, who through his lawyer, Gerson Narib, told the High Court so when the hearing in which Nakanyala is fighting his imminent transfer to Omaheke Region started on Friday.

The decision to transfer Nakanyala from the division responsible for the personal security of the President and other VIPs was a result of a string of tribally-intoned SMSes from Nakanyala’s phone, regarding the tribal origins of the team tasked to protect the President, it was argued.

Now Nakanyala, a Ndonga, stands accused of being biased against Oshikwanyama-speaking Namibians, some of whom he has allegedly transferred away from the VIP protection unit and replaced with people who speak Mbalantu and Kwambi dialects.

In a series of SMSes, some of which have been sent directly to the mobile phone of Police Deputy Inspector-General, James Tjivikua, it became clear that Nakanyala could no longer be trusted with the security of the President, Ndeitunga’s legal team argued.

It was primarily on that basis that Ndeitunga resolved to redeploy Nakanyala, whom he ordered to take up the position of police regional commander for Omaheke, with immediate effect.

But counsel for Nakanyala, Sisa Namandje, echoed his client’s claims that the move was rooted in ‘ulterior motives’ rather than the security of the President and other VIPs as advanced by Ndeitunga’s legal team.

“The Inspector-General is claiming that there’s poor security at State House but it’s actually (Deputy Commissioner Elias) Mutota who is responsible for State House security because my client is based at the old State House,” Namandje said.

If anyone has to be transferred because of poor security at State House, that person has to be Mutota and not Nakanyala, Namandje argued.

“Instead of transferring Mutota, the Inspector-General appointed him (Mutota) to act as head of the VIP protection division, to replace Mr Nakanyala,” Namandje told the court.

Therefore, Namandje contests, the state security reason advanced by Ndeitunga ‘does not pass the test’ of why Nakanyala should be transferred to Omaheke.

Namandje also argued that Ndeitunga has failed to satisfy the court with details confirming that the said SMSes were indeed authored by Nakanyala.

But Narib countered his learned friend’s version, saying there is evidence that the texts were sent from Nakanyala’s mobile number and the serial number of the handset used is that of his mobile number.

Narib argued that Ndeitunga’s action is well within the confines of his mandate as police inspector-general.

He added that to be head of the VIP protection unit is a “position of trust” and an incumbent of that “sensitive” position should demonstrate trustworthiness and loyalty.

Narib says Nakanyala’s SMSes harboured racial and ethnicity slurs and this compromises the trust bestowed on him.

“It is a serious source of concern when a person in the position of head of the VIP protection unit is sending such type of SMSes,” Narib said.

“Race, ethnicity and regionalism could leave any reasonable person in doubt, especially when this is coming from a person entrusted with the protection of the country’s President,” said Narib said.

There was therefore reasonable ground for Ndeitunga to arrive at the decision of transferring Nakanyala, Narib said.

“It was a security decision. This is a position of trust, judgment and discretion,” said Narib.

“An incumbent in that position has to demonstrate utmost ability to deal with safety of people like the State President. My client’s action is based on the preliminary evidence contained in the SMSes.”

Namandje then asked: “Why is he (Nakanyala) not trusted as head of VIP protection unit but he’s trusted to serve as Omaheke regional commander?”

“Who would be responsible for the security of the President when he visits Omaheke,” Namandje further wanted to know.

Judge Dave Smuts reserved judgment in the matter.

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