By Mbatjiua Ngavirue The long arm of the law appears limp, if not actually paralysed, when it comes to investigating the case involving corrugated iron and farm gates allegedly stolen from the government farm Anabeib. Ministry of Lands Official in Gobabis, Erastus Nghishoono, on April 21 openly confirmed to New Era that materials found on his farm Schellenberg were stolen goods, but denied being involved in the theft of the goods. Ministry of works employee Kaitjombiri Katjirua admitted to having transported the corrugated iron and farm gates from the government farm Anabeib to Nghishoono’s farm Schellenberg. Katjirua’s explanation was that he transported the goods to the farm in the middle of the night with the intention to ask Nghishoono whether he could have the materials. The question, however, arises that if Nghishoono knowingly kept stolen goods on his farm whether that does not amount to a criminal offence. In Katjirua’s case, it is also questionable whether removing state property – apparently without authorization – from a government farm was legal whatever the intention. Despite the admissions by the two officials, there is still no sign whether Omaheke Police have even lifted a finger in an effort to investigate the suspected theft. Chief Inspector Angula Amulungu of the Namibian Police Media Liaison Division this week said that, as far as he knew, the Omaheke Police have not yet taken any action regarding the stolen goods. Amulungu said the only cases the Omaheke Police are investigating are two cases of theft reported to the police by Nghishoono from another government farm, Tredgold. On December 9, 2006 Nghishoono reported the theft of 28 gates and 1 tap from Tredgold, registered under case number CR 38/12/2006. Nghishoono reported a further case of theft on December 22, 2006 involving 12 corrugated iron sheets and three gates, registered as case number CR 56/12/2006. According to Amulungu, Omaheke Police are investigating both cases but have so far not apprehended any suspects. The Namibian government bought at least four farms in the same district as Tredgold in February 2006, including Anabeib (or Anaeib), Ums, and another farm which name is unknown. Sources in the region say thieves looted all four farms, taking valuable infrastructure including virtually every farm gate from all of them. One source in Gobabis suggested the police in the region might be waiting for instructions from the Permanent Secretary of Lands and Resettlement, Frans Tsheehama, in Windhoek before launching an investigation into thefts at Anabeib. It is, however, not clear why the Namibian Police cannot act on their own initiative and have to wait for instructions, when two people have publicly confirmed to irregularities involving stolen government property. Approached for comment late Tuesday afternoon, Permanent Secretary Frans Tsheehama said it was premature for him to comment on the matter. He, however, added that members of the public should not assume that the Ministry of Lands and Resettlement is not taking action regarding the stolen government property. “We are following the matter up administratively. We will let the competent authorities investigate the matter as they deem fit. “Two people are making different claims, and we are not judges. If we start answering questions now, we will be caught between two individuals,” he said. Meanwhile, Director of the Anti-Corruption Commission, Paulus Kalomo Noa, on Tuesday also indicated he would contact the Namibian Police to find out what action they are taking, if any. In early April, Noa disclosed that his office had sent a hand-delivered letter to Lands and Resettlement requesting them to explain alleged irregularities involving Erastus Nghishoono, a ministry official in the Omaheke Region. The letter specifically asked the ministry to explain the allegation that Nghishoono is sub-letting his resettlement farm Schellenberg 79, contrary to his lease agreement with the Ministry of Lands. His letter also asked for an explanation concerning an absentee white farmer who allegedly has 20 cattle on Nghishoono’s farm. In addition, he questioned the ministry about Nghishoono’s alleged abuse of a vehicle donated by the Spanish government to the Drimiopsis/Skoonheid Resettlement Project. Noa on Tuesday said Permanent Secretary Tsheehama had replied, acknowledging receipt of Noa’s letter. Tsheehama also informed him that he had dispatched an investigating team to Omaheke to investigate the allegation, and would then compile a report which they would forward to the Anti-Corruption Commission. In the meantime, New Era has learnt that the ministry’s investigating team, led by Director for Land Reform, Harry Tjipueja, failed to interview the other three farmers officially resettled with Nghishoono on the farm Schellenberg. The other three farmers are all elderly pensioners who had gone to Gobabis to collect their pensions the day the investigating team arrived. These three farmers are key witnesses to what has taken place on the farm over the past five years, and the omission of their testimony could undermine the credibility of the Tjipueja investigation. Approached for comment yesterday, the Ministry of Lands Media Liaison Officer, Chrispin Matongelo, said it was not part of the ivestigating team’s terms of reference to interview the other resettled farmers. Matongelo said ministry employee, Nghishoono was the main focus of the investigating team’s enquiries.