…Ndeitunga justifies ‘ethnic balancing’
RUNDU – The promotion of a police inspector to the rank of a fully-fledged commissioner and regional commander has caused a stir in the force in the two Kavango regions.
Johanna Ndahafa Ngondo was promoted to the position of regional commander of Kavango East and now occupies the rank of police commissioner. Sources at police headquarters oppose the appointment and want to know what criteria were used to elevate Ngondo and how she jumped from the rank of inspector to that of police commissioner. She was promoted and appointed earlier this month to the dismay of many in the force. “She was just an inspector, this means she jumped the ranks of chief inspector and deputy commissioner, this is very unprofessional and it paints a negative picture of our force,” said a source privy to police appointment procedures.
“So the Inspector General wants to tell us that there are no other senior ranked females who could fill the position,” the source queried. Several messages decrying the recent spate of senior appointments in the police force have been making the rounds in the media lately. Approached for comment on Tuesday, Police Inspector General, Lieutenant General Sebastian Ndeitunga, said he is aware of the criticism regarding the appointment, and added that those opposing Ngondo’s appointment are “disgruntled police officers, who were eyeing the position.”
“It is pure ignorance, I know it is disgruntled police officers who wanted to occupy the position. Whenever there is a vacancy, I use the affirmative action policy to empower women. But that does not mean male police are totally cut off, the chance is there for everyone but we have to uplift our woman, “ Ndeitunga justified Ngondo’s elevation. Ndeitunga said Ngondo is hardworking and has been performing exceptionally well during her tenure at the National Police Headquarters.
“Even The Regional Commander of the Oshikoto Region [Anne-Marie Nainda] was promoted in the same manner, but she is performing well. If we do not push our women then when do we expect them to go up, we have to take bold decisions because in the past women were probably omitted deliberately. Do we want to wait until Jesus comes before we empower our women or what,” he said.
The force also promoted Chief Inspector Monaliza Molebugi to the rank of commissioner to serve as the head of the training and development directorate, replacing Commissioner Desderious Shilunga, who is now the Khomas Regional Commander. There is also a need for ethnic balancing in decision-making positions in the force, Ndeitunga said. According to him ‘ethnic balancing’ was one of the criteria that was looked at to promote and appoint Molebugi to her new position. “We need to bring other ethnic groups in the mainstream of decision-making. Commissioner Molebugi is Tswana speaking, something you hardly see within the top structures of the police. So do you want to tell me that there is something wrong with putting other ethnic groups in top positions?” Ndeitunga asked.
“We have to be serious when we talk about ethnic integration in government structures,” the police chief further elaborated. Ngondo and Molebugi are both in Zimbabwe attending an induction course until April this year.
By Mathias Haufiku