By William Mbangula
OSHAKATI
Former chairman of the Ovambo Bantustan Administration, Peter Kalangula, described a search on his farm at Mangetti by police as part of an intimidation campaign.
Kalangula confirmed to New Era that about nine police officers went to search his farm on Tuesday, under the pretext that there were firearms hidden.
Asked about what he suspected to be the reason for the move, he said this could be part of a general intimidation campaign against him.
Kalangula, 83, was originally ordained as Anglican priest before he formed his own church and joined politics. He became the chairman of the Ovambo Administration from 1980 to 1989 under the South African colonial government.
During his reign as the leader of the Ovambo homeland, he was also the president of the South Africa-initiated Democratic Turnhalle Alliance (DTA) from 1980 to 1982 when he broke ties with the alliance.
He had serious disagreements with the then chairman of the DTA, Dirk Mudge. Kalangula then formed his own party, the Christian Democratic Party for Social Justice (CDA), which failed to gain a seat during the independence elections in 1989.
Since then, Kalangula has been a preacher in the Church of England of Southern Africa. Commenting on the issue, the Oshana Police commander, Deputy Commissioner Ndahangwapo Kashihakumwa, confirmed the search, which he said was done in a proper and orderly manner like any other searches by the police anywhere in the country.
He explained: “We acted on information provided by members of the public that there are firearms at the place and we as law enforcement agencies are obliged to investigate and confirm whether the information given to us is true.
“We followed all the necessary and required procedures by acquiring a search warrant and to see him first at his house,” he said. “He delegated someone he trusts to accompany us to the farm.”
Kashihakumwa said seven hunting rifles were found at the farm and the police are now in the process of verifying whether such weapons are licensed.
He said Kalangula has been cooperative with the police.
He denied any political motive behind the search saying the police was apolitical.