Windhoek
The managing director of Namibia Wildlife Resorts (NWR) Zelna Hengari has opened a case of crimen injuria against two of her fellow employees who have allegedly been texting and emailing her slanderous messages, causing her sleepless nights.
According to well-placed sources the two employees, of whom one is her former personal assistant, have been sending her insulting messages and also been using gmail accounts, which could not easily be identified, to call her a “prostitute who should just leave NWR to join other prostitutes under the bridges”, among other messages that caused her emotional and psychological anguish.
The messages allegedly also included death threats.
With the assistance of the police investigating unit and MTC, detectives managed to trace the two employees who were ultimately arrested this week and charged with crimen injuria. The duo Hilma Naambo Johannes (39) and Jafet Shikesho (49) appeared in the Windhoek Magistrate’s Court on Monday. Johannes is currently out on bail of N$1 000 while Shikesho was released on a warning.
Kathila Amoomo represented the two accused in the matter. Hengari who did not want to say much surrounding the defamatory remarks against her, confirmed opening a case with the police. “I cannot comment on the matter because the case is in court. But I opened a case with the police against Hilma and Jafet for constantly hurling insults at me. I don’t know what agenda they have against me. Hilma was even my personal assistant; I don’t understand why she should do such things,” she told New Era.
Sources said the demeaning and slanderous remarks started circulating from the time Hengari took up the position as acting MD at the tourism parastatal.
“Since she started here, she has been receiving nothing but threatening and insulting messages through gmail and text messages from unknown cellphone numbers. But in one particular case she had come from an indaba in Germany on the 13th of March 2016 and the new board was inaugurated thereafter. While she was sitting at the inauguration she received insulting messages that she is a prostitute and must join others under the bridge, among other insults which cannot be mentioned as they are very bad. They also insulted her husband badly. She has really been through a lot due to these insults. Even when she sits with the board members presenting them the company’s financial statements, she keeps receiving these insulting messages,” a source informed New Era.
Although some of the cellphone numbers used were discarded after the insults sent to her, MTC and the police managed to trace the sources of the insulting messages which were sent from the duo’s mobile phones.
It is further believed that although the accused are the ringleaders, more people are involved in the slander and further arrests are expected. Shikesho was transferred from Halali to Gross Barmen in Okahandja. Hengari’s former PA currently serves as manager of operational support at NWR. Their case has been postponed to July 8.