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Thieves Target Nyamu Vehicle

Home Archived Thieves Target Nyamu Vehicle

By Kuvee Kangueehi Windhoek A vehicle that belongs to former MP and Minister of Trade and Industry Jesaya Nyamu was broken into last Friday in the capital. The burglary took place in Olympia at the residence of former Swapo Party Secretary for Economic Affairs Festus Naholo. Nyamu who was expelled from Swapo Party confirmed the break-in to New Era yesterday and said “a small bag with small items was stolen” from the vehicle. He said it appears that the suspected thieves did not have enough time as they did not take any other belongings that were in the vehicle. “Maybe they were in a hurry because they did not take any other belongings that were in the vehicle.” The former minister added that he was surprised by the break-in because his vehicle was parked on the street on a very busy road. Nyamu said although the incident appears to be simply criminal, he does not rule out the possibility that he was being spied on. “I have been spied on before and you know the notes issue and there is no way I can rule that out.” He added that he was informed by the police investigating the incident that the tracks of those who broke into his car showed that they wore military boots. Asked whether there were any documents in the car, Nyamu jokingly replied: “You mean the famous notes? I have learned my lesson and will never keep such notes.” Nyamu became the first senior Swapo member to be expelled from the party since 1990, at the end of last year. He said he did not get into his Toyota Hilux 2.7 bakkie after the discovery of the break in because he was not convinced that it was safe to do so. “I came from a military background and I could also not get into the car because I would have tempered with evidence.” The outspoken former Swapo Politburo member was expelled after publicly admitting that he was the author of private notes that suggested options for supporters of Hidipo Hamutenya, including a reference to establishing another party. The notes which led to his premature exit from Swapo were stolen from his ministerial office and despite his plea that investigations be carried out to discover who stole them, he was ousted. Nyamu strongly backed former Minister of Foreign Affairs Hamutenya, now an ordinary MP, and nominated him for the vice presidency of the party. The latter however declined to stand and only made himself available as a Swapo Presidential candidate. He lost the contest to the current president Hifikepunye Pohamba at the watershed 2004 Swapo Extra Ordinary Congress. Nyamu was one of several Hamutenya backers who failed to make it onto the party’s candidate list after the 2004 National Assembly elections. The Namibian Police through the spokesperson Warrant Officer James Matengu confirmed the incident and said the matter was under investigation.