A Real Test For The President

THE suspension this week of the Chief of the Namibian Defence Force, Lieutenant General Martin Shalli, by head of state, President Hifikepunye Pohamba, on the recommendation of the Security Commission, has sent shockwaves through the nation.

In a country which has long bemoaned the fact that with regard to suspected corrupt activities, the focus has fallen primarily on the lesser-known trangressors rather than the ‘big fish’, this is certainly a first.In a press release from State House this week, Dr Albert Kawana, the Minister of Presidential Affairs, informed the public about the immediate suspension of the Chief of the Defence Force and the appointment of Major General Peter Nambundunga as the acting chief in Shalli’s stead.The decision to suspend Shalli, the statement said, ‘stems from serious allegations of irregularities which must be thoroughly investigated within the letter and spirit of the laws of our Republic. The suspension will also facilitate an unhindered investigation.’While the statement gave no further details on the claimed ‘irregularities’, there is talk of an alleged multi-million ‘kickback’ involving a(nother) deal with a Chinese company in regard to the purchase of NDF materials.Lieutenant General Shalli himself, most recently at the centre of a controversy when former President Sam Nujoma downgraded him to Namibian Ambassador in Lusaka, Zambia, chose not to comment when approached by reporters on his suspension. He was later recalled and sworn in as the Chief of the Namibian Defence Force by President Pohamba, on the recommendation of the Security Commission, when he took office.And while State House have promised a thorough investigation, citing this as the reason for the suspension, all sources seem to indicate that the probe has already been finalised. If reports of the Prosecutor General herself having been to China to investigate, are true, added to the fact that the matter is over a month old, then is seems as though the main question is how to take the issue forward.There are undoubtedly ‘security’ considerations. Namibians would never have guessed that the first alleged ‘big fish’ would be the Chief of the Defence Force rather than a political officebearer over which there would have been considerably less shock expressed, and so if the claimed irregularities are indeed grounded in fact, the question is ‘what next?’The rumour mills are hard at work as we speak, and it is definitely incumbent on the head of state to deal with this case with as much speed as possible, to clarify the matter one way or the other. For the sake too, of stability in the armed forces, and given that this is an election year, the case cannot be allowed to languish in the hopes that it will finally go away.Our handling of similar cases in the past has left much to be desired. In the case, for example of the missing N$3,1 million of NDF money, the Attorney General promised the matter would be taken to its logical conclusion, but years have passed in the interim. People who may have been implicated in the said disappearance, as has happened in similar cases, were transferred to other Ministries, and it is likely that the trail has now gone cold. There are numerous other examples we could cite where higher-ups have been implicated but the Government has lacked the political will to take them to task.Against this background, people may well ask why Shalli is the first to be made an example of. This underlines the need for Government, the head of State in particular, to exhibit consistency at all times with regard to suspected corrupt activities, or risk people guessing, believing or speculating that political reasons have played a role in the demise of some, while others get off scot-free.The Namibian is clear on the issue of corruption. All wrongdoing must be prosecuted, and especially those who’ve taken oath of office. They are the custodians of our national resources and in the event of fraud and corruption, perpetrators must be vigorously taken to task, without fear or favour because of political or other considerations.And this is quite possibly the dilemma that faces the head of state and leader of the ruling party right now.But it has to be dealt with, and we would suggest that the investigation into the Shalli matter be speedily concluded and dealt with in accordance with the outcome. Likewise we would add, Government has to exhibit across-the-board consistency, or risk the fallout that will come from what may appear to be a selective process when it comes to dealing with allegations of wrongdoing, rather than a ‘zero tolerance’ approach as has been promised by President Pohamba. This is a very real, and very serious test for our head of state.