Ndeitunga eyes Swapo position

Retired Namibian Police inspector general Sebastian Ndeitunga has formally declared his interest in entering politics.

He says he is interested in any position Swapo would assign him.

“If I am to be involved in any politics, everyone will know, and I will be ready to take up the task that may be given to me in the structure of the party.

“The Swapo party is the only party I have been a member of since 1975,” he said.

Ndeitunga has in the past on occasion been seen attending Swapo events and donning party regalia.

In an earlier interview with Desert Radio he said he would take a sabbatical at his farm and could not wait to be a civilian who interacts freely in the public sphere.

“Anyone can take up any portfolio in the party and everyone should be ready for whatever task they are given by the party, but you don’t decide where you want to be placed – there is an election.

“Swapo is a democratic party, and I am loyal to one party only,” he said.

Ndeitunga said he is satisfied with what he has accomplished during his term as police chief.

“We have transformed the police, and it’s a process.

“We have trained people to better the service of the police and ensure it’s efficient and productive. We rendered the service equally to the Namibian people – regardless of their background, political affiliation, or religion,” he said.

Ndeitunga said he would continue supporting the police during his retirement.

“I am requesting the Namibian public to continue assisting the force, and the police should always be loyal to the public of this country and ensure the service is fairly rendered to every citizen.

“They should make this country proud of men and women in uniform,” he said.

Ndeitunga was one of the longest-serving inspectors general in independent Namibia.

“I am doing fine, physically and emotionally. I don’t have any stress, and life is good,” he said.

During his tenure, he ordered controversial crackdowns on crime, waged a notorious war on miniskirts, and was questioned for having close ties to influential Chinese business people, such as Stina Wu.

In 2016, he fired deputy commissioner Godfried Khariseb from the police’s Commercial Crime Investigations Division.

Three years earlier, Khariseb accused Ndeitunga of allowing nepotism, tribalism, and favouritism to flourish in the police.

The official reason for Khariseb’s dismissal was absenteeism.

In 2021, Ndeitunga threatened to take over the Windhoek municipality’s political leadership, which was being run by an opposition coalition.

Ndeitunga was replaced by major general Joseph Shikongo, who heads operations.

“I am not a perfect man,” he said.

Ndeitunga said he likes to listen to his favourite local songs during his retirement, and is enjoying his freedom.
“I go eat kapana. I go eat mopane worms. I go to restaurants. I am free.”

He also said he would like to rest for at least three months.

“I will just be sleeping almost every day to rest before I embark on a journey to visit my family around the country and in Angola,” he said.