Windhoek
Police chief Sebastian Ndeitunga has explained that the force is required by law to only employ physically fit people.
Ndeitunga was reacting to a report by New Era last week about the plight of Ananias Shikongo, a continental champion in three categories at the recent All Africa Games but who is languishing in virtual poverty.
Shikongo claimed that when he recently sought employment within the police force, he was told he did not meet the basic requirement because of his disability.
Ndeitunga said it is unfortunate that Shikongo did not get employment in the force but added that he can approach other ministries for possible employment.
“It is a sensitive and security issue; there are many other ministries and he can go and try his luck there,” said Ndeitunga.
Shikongo, 29, recently returned from Congo-Brazzaville where the Namibian team took part in the All Africa Games (AAG) and scooped 14 medals.
Shikongo won three gold medals in different categories but even though he is a continental champion, he returned home to his usual situation of poverty and hardship.
The para-athlete is unemployed and survives from the disability grant he gets from the government. He said he spends that money on food, himself and relatives. Shikongo said he is waiting to hear if AAG will reward him monetarily.
The para-athlete said people living with disabilities are not counted and just participate in games for nothing. He said abled-body athletes are recruited in the police or Namibian Defence Force (NDF) but not them. He said some guides were recently recruited into the correctional service.
The Namibian Police Act states that the inspector general shall appoint fit and proper persons to be members of the force, and shall appoint such members as officers or non-officers, as the case may be.
The Act also states that no person shall be appointed to the police force unless he or she has undergone the prescribed medical examination and it has been established that he or she does not have any physical or mental defect, or does not suffer from any disease or ailment which will impair his or her ability to undergo any form of training required to be undertaken, or to perform his or her duties as a member of the police force, among others.
Namibians also took to social media and expressed their disappointment with the government’s failure to welcome the team back.
Tangeni Tjijorokisa said he was heartbroken to read that there was no single Namibian official to welcome Shikongo and team home for bringing back gold medals. “Is this ignorant or no interest?” questioned Tjijorokisa.