Five shortlisted for PG position
Five candidates from Namibia’s legal fraternity have been shortlisted for the position of the country’s next prosecutor general as incumbent Martha Imalwa’s tenure draws to a close. Those in contention include First National Bank (FNB) legal adviser Taswald July, who is a former deputy prosecutor general, private legal practitioner Salomon Kanyemba, who is a former […] The post Five shortlisted for PG position appeared first on The Namibian.
Black News 
Five candidates from Namibia’s legal fraternity have been shortlisted for the position of the country’s next prosecutor general as incumbent Martha Imalwa’s tenure draws to a close.
Those in contention include First National Bank (FNB) legal adviser Taswald July, who is a former deputy prosecutor general, private legal practitioner Salomon Kanyemba, who is a former prosecutor, and Lucious Matota, who serves as chief prosecutor at the Oshakati High Court.
Also shortlisted are deputy prosecutors general Henry Muhongo and Ruben Shileka.
Shileka on Tuesday told The Namibian his shortlisting reflects significant progress in his career, particularly having entered prosecution at entry level.
“It means a lot for someone who started at entry level to qualify for such a magnitude position,” he said.
Although noting it is premature to comment extensively, Shileka highlighted challenges facing the prosecutor general’s office, including manpower shortages and staff retention.
“Those are most issues affecting prosecution,” he said.
Matota on Tuesday said he could not comment as he had just received his interview invitation letter.
“We are still going to go for some tests and other things. So, I don’t want to disclose information, because I will be talking about things before even being given the opportunity to ask us what we can offer. I would rather not comment on matter,” he said.
Kanyemba did not respond to calls or a text message sent yesterday, while Muhongo was not available for comment.
July said it was an opportunity to serve.
“I am looking forward to the process, and it is an opportunity for which I am very grateful and thankful,” he said.
The successful candidate will take over from Imalwa, who is expected to retire at the end of this year following an extended term in office.
In December last year, the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) announced it had extended Imalwa’s contract by an additional year, allowing her to remain in position until December this year.
The commission has since initiated the recruitment process for her successor, inviting applications from suitably qualified candidates.
Imalwa was first appointed as prosecutor general in 2004 for an initial 10-year term.
Her contract was renewed in 2013 for a further seven years, followed by another reappointment for five years in 2020.
Imalwa is Namibia’s second prosecutor general after succeeding late Hans Heyman, who served from March 1990 until November 2002.
Imalwa has, however, faced accusations that she has been sitting on cases and failing to prosecute major corruption matters in the country.
She has dismissed these claims, maintaining that she has not delayed high-profile cases and challenging critics to provide evidence.
“Is it because I am a woman? Is it because I came from an unknown family, or is it because of what? I am from a subsistence farmer, my father. My mother is a housewife.
“I need somebody to tell me why Olivia Martha Imalwa? Am I not performing? If I am not performing, where am I not performing?” she asked during a press conference in Windhoek in 2019.
The post Five shortlisted for PG position appeared first on The Namibian.
