Sakaria to guard president
Oshana regional police commander Naftal Sakaria is set to lead the unit protecting president Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, replacing commissioner Andreas Nelumbu, who was appointed to the role last year. Police chief inspector general Joseph Shikongo held a virtual meeting with the commissioners he reshuffled Monday afternoon. Police spokesperson Kauna Shikwambi confirmed the shift in a media […] The post Sakaria to guard president appeared first on The Namibian.
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Oshana regional police commander Naftal Sakaria is set to lead the unit protecting president Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, replacing commissioner Andreas Nelumbu, who was appointed to the role last year.
Police chief inspector general Joseph Shikongo held a virtual meeting with the commissioners he reshuffled Monday afternoon.
Police spokesperson Kauna Shikwambi confirmed the shift in a media statement on Tuesday.
It’s unclear why Nelumbu has been ousted from the top police job barely a year into his role, but some sources claim the president had a role in requesting the move.
Sakaria declined to comment on the matter.
“I was with the inspector general today, and he is the one who can comment on those matters. I can’t comment,” he said yesterday.
Presidential spokesperson Jonas Mbambo confirmed Nelumbu’s departure from State House yesterday.
“We can confirm that commissioner Andreas Nelumbu has been redeployed from his assignment at State
House. Such decisions fall within the prerogative of the president, exercised in consultation with the relevant heads of the security cluster, including the inspector general of the Namibian Police,” he said.
“These are internal administrative matters, and we will not be providing further details,” he said.
Sakaria has since been relieved of his duties in the Oshana region, where he had served as regional commander since 2022.
The Namibian understands that Zambezi police commissioner Andreas Shilelo could be moved to the Oshana region, while Julia Sakuwa-Neo, who is currently the Kavango West region’s commissioner, could be transferred to the Zambezi region.
Shilelo referred The Namibian to Shikongo when approached for comment yesterday.
“Ask the inspector general and come back to me,” he said.
Sakuwa-Neo also referred The Namibian to the national police chief.
The latest shake-up of the top security position comes after speculation in the media last year.
Online news outlet The Issue last year reported that Nandi-Ndaitwah’s mooted restructuring of the country’s security cluster could strengthen presidential protection and put an end to 20 years of rogue uniformed officials peddling information to gain favour with politicians.
SHORT STAY
Nelumbu will be heading to the Kavango West region.
Nelumbo has in the past served as police logistics and procurement head.
In September 2022, New Era published a report titled ‘Top cops plot thickens’.
The Namibian could not get hold of Nelumbu yesterday.
Lawyer Francois Bangamwabo, who represented him in the New Era matter, said he could not get hold of him either.
The post Sakaria to guard president appeared first on The Namibian.
