Likando still top spy

The director general of the Namibia Central Intelligence Service (NCIS), Benedict Likando, remains in his position, according to presidential spokesperson Alfredo Hengari.

Hengari’s clarification comes after reports surfaced last week suggesting Likando had stepped down from his role.

“Please be informed that Mr Benedict Likando is still the director general of the NCIS. President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah leads in a manner that is transparent and communicates any changes to officers in charge in the executive and other presidential appointments accordingly,” Hengari says.

When Likando was approached for comment last week on whether he was still with the agency, he said: “I don’t know, really. Can you ask the authority?”

Former president Hage Geingob appointed Likando as director general of the NCIS in March 2020, replacing Philemon Malima, who had served in the position for five years.

The NCIS is responsible for all intelligence services in Namibia and is subject to the constitutional democracy of the country.

The agency is headed by a director general appointed by the president, who is also the principal adviser to the president and the government on matters relating to national security and intelligence.

In 2018, Popular Democratic Movement (PDM) leader McHenry Venaani accused former NCIS director Lucas Hangula of refusing to leave the intelligence agency.

At the time, Venaani said because of Hangula’s refusal to go, Likando, who was then serving as NCIS executive director, also refused to retire.

Venaani said this was causing low morale among intelligence officers.

That year, the NCIS approached the court and stopped a now-defunct weekly newspaper The Patriot from publishing an article about its properties.

This included two farms that were allegedly bought with public funds.

The NCIS at the time claimed the publication of the article would jeopardise national security.

Venaani last year accused the NCIS of paying some political leaders to destabilise other political parties, making the claim at his party’s central committee meeting at Opuwo.

He claimed the spy agency created a new party, called Action Democratic Movement (ADM), to try and distract people from the PDM.

Venaani urged then president Nangolo Mbumba to remove NCIS resources from politics.

“We know what you’re doing. This organisation I lead should survive beyond your central intelligence,” he said.

ADM leader Vinsent Kanyetu at the time denied Venaani’s claims.