By Elezo Libanda
Katima Mulilo, Aug. 22 — President Hage Geingob has appointed Major General Joseph Shikongo as the new Inspector General of the Namibian police.
Shikongo has been tipped as the hot favourite to replace inspector general Sebastian Ndeitunga who was born in 1962 and goes into retirement end of August 2022.
Shikongo’s latest promotion is the second in one year, however, many members of the police force have showered him with praise for being humble and having the interests of the force at heart.
“Shikongo is the right candidate for the job as he has demonstrated his capabilities, humbleness and understanding of the plight of members in terms of hardship and low salaries,” said a source who preferred to remain anonymous.
Some members of the force, particularly the lower ranks, have complained in the past of favouritism in the organisation.
They alleged that some inefficient officers were being promoted at the expense of deserving hardworking officers and this had resulted in experienced officers resigning from the force, while others opted for early retirement due to frustration, a police officer based at Kongola said.
Ndeitunga will however be remembered as the longest-serving police inspector general. However, his reign has not been easy as he had to deal with difficult cases, such as the Caprivi treason trial, the ongoing Fishrot case, and the inquest of the Nchindo brothers who were killed on the Chobe river by Botswana Defence Forces and many others high profile cases.
He will also be remembered for being dramatic after he denied having ordered the arrest of women found wearing short and revealing miniskirts in 2013.
