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.

Swaziland : TOP SOLDIER QUITS ARMY

A high ranking member of the army Umbutfo Swaziland Defense Force has tendered his resignation from the army amidst reports that the Anti Corruption Commission’s (ACC) net was closing in on him on allegations of wrongdoing.

Major General Manyosi Simelane tendered his resignation letter to Army Commander General Sobantu Dlamini, after he was advised by some legal eagles that he should quit the army so that by the time of his arrest, which according to army sources was imminent, he would be no longer a member of the armed forces.

This, the sources said, would allow him to salvage some of his long-term service benefits within the army as he stood to lose everything if he was arrested while still a soldier. The sources said this would also protect the army’s image, while also enabling him to be arrested as a civilian, despite that the corruption allegations against him happened while he was still a soldier.

Although Army officials have thrown a thick shroud of secrecy over the matter, the inside sources revealed that the ACC was also investigating at least three very senior members of the force for corruption related offences. The three other top ranking army officials are known to this newspaper, but their identities cannot be revealed as yet. It has been disclosed that their arrests were also imminent after the ACC had made its case after conducting lengthy investigations against them.

The corruption allegations against Simelane include among others, abusing the name of royalty within the army, army supplies procurement irregularities and allegedly taking bribes for army jobs.

It is not yet clear whether the resignation will be recognised by the army, as soldiers, by the nature of their job, cannot wake up overnight and tender in their resignations without very strong reasons. Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Lutfo Dlamini, who also doubles up as the minister of defence could not confirm nor deny the allegations when he was called for comment yesterday.

Instead, he referred queries to the Army Commander Brigadier General Sobantu Dlamini or the principal secretary in the Ministry, John Kunene. Kunene could not be reached as his cellphone was out of the local network, while Army Commander Sobantu flatly refused to entertain reporters when they visited his home in Manzini yesterday.