General Martin Shalli retires with honours

Lieutenant- General Martin Shalli, head of the Namibia Defence Force (NDF), who has been on suspension for more than a year, was ‘retired’ this week with full military privileges by the President.

Shalli is succeeded by Major General Epaphras ‘Denga’ Ndaitwah, who was the Chief of Staff Operations of the NDF. State House issued a statement signed by Minister of Presidential Affairs Dr Albert Kawana late on Wednesday in which Shalli’s removal was announced. Kawana said Shalli was no longer an “active” member of the defence force but he would be retiring with full military privileges.

“I suppose when you retire from such a position you do so with all privileges,” Kawana added when asked to clarify. The privileges include retiring with rank, full military regalia that can be donned when attending national events, a diplomatic passport and remaining an NDF reservist. Lieutenant General Shalli was suspended in July 2009 for “serious allegations of irregularities which must be investigated”, a statement issued by Kawana said at the time. Wednesday’s statement in which Shalli’s removal was announced made no mention of the investigation or the reason for ‘retiring’ him. The fact that both State House and the Police, who conducted the investigation, do not want to shed any light on the probe leaves more questions than answers in the minds of the public. People are of the opinion they ought to be informed about the status of the investigation and whether Shalli will be prosecuted our cleared. Asked why Shalli was removed, Kawana referred The Namibian to Nampol, who investigated the “serious allegations of irregularities”, although the probe was initiated at the behest of State House. Kawana said: “We don’t want to interfere in a Police investigation”. The head of Nampol, Lieutenant General Sebastian Ndeitunga, confirmed that the Police had completed the investigation into the Shalli affair and forwarded its report to the Prosecutor General. “We have done all we could and forwarded it to the Office of the Prosecutor General – that’s all I can tell you,” Ndeitunga said. It is understood that the Prosecutor General has not yet decided whether to prosecute Shalli on possible criminal charges or not.

KICKBACK ALLEGATIONS

According to media reports which were never confirmed by State House or the Police, Shalli was investigated for allegedly receiving kickbacks from a Chinese company. Insight magazine reported at the time that Shalli rented his Windhoek house to a Chinese national, who was allegedly connected to a Chinese company which supplied the Namibian Defence Force with military hardware. But, Shalli, according to the report, was not with the NDF when the military supply deal was signed with Poly Technologies in 2006. The Insight report also alleged that the Chinese national paid US$250 000 in advance for a 10-year lease on the house. Shalli rubbished the kickback allegations, but confirmed that he had rented his property to a Chinese national. When The Namibian spoke to him yesterday, Shalli would not be drawn into commenting on the investigation, only saying that he was “proud to have served the Namibian nation before and after Independence. It was an honour and privilege to have led the Namibia Defence Force”. Shalli also called on those who served under his command to continue “serving the nation with honour and duty”.

MILITARY HONOURS

The Lieutenant General had an illustrious military career spanning 37 years, dating back before the Independence of Namibia, and has been decorated with three medals, namely Order of Eagle Second Class, the Omugulugwombashe Medal and the Namibia Cross for Bravery.

Shalli became the third head of the NDF since Independence when he was appointed by President Hifikepunye Pohamba as the chief of the Namibian Defence Force in 2006 to succeed Lieutenant General Solomon Hawala, who retired. He was recalled by Pohamba from Zambia, where he served as Namibia’s High Commissioner to that country. Shalli had been appointed by former President Sam Nujoma to the diplomatic service, but was recalled in 2006 after a stint of just 18 months by Pohamba, who succeeded Nujoma, to become the head of the NDF. Before his diplomatic posting to Zambia, Shalli was the head of the Army. The NDF consists of the Army, the Navy and the Air Force.