Police supremo Joseph Shikongo has finally addressed the fatal motor-vehicle accident he was involved in near Ondangwa in December 2022.
Three individuals, Sofia Ananias, Frans Ndengu and Stefanus Lukas died in that accident. Breaking his silence, Inspector General Shikongo revealed the emotional and health toll the tragedy has taken on him. He was speaking in a wide-ranging exclusive interview with New Era at his office yesterday. It covered a wide array of issues, including his tenure at the helm of the police,
and his tireless campaigns to secure a top spot for deputy inspector general for administation Anne-Marie Nainda at Interpol, amongst others.
While admitting that the accident was his first and completely unintentional, Shikongo admitted undergoing deep distress due to the public backlash he faced over it.
He said he had been unfairly judged, subjected to harsh criticism, and even labelled a “killer” and “murderer”, based solely on public opinion. This intense scrutiny, coupled with the legal proceedings instituted
against him, significantly impacted his well-being, he stated.
“This was my first accident in my life. Indeed very painful, because young lives were lost. I never had an accident before. What makes it difficult for me is that people started prosecuting me through public opinion,” he lamented. He continued: “I am a person just like any other person, and I am not immune to anything. Why would I be judged based on public opinion? They should leave that in the hands of the law.”
Shikongo said Namibia has well-organised legal structures and traditional processes a person can go through when accidents occur.
The police chief said some of the family members of the crash victims have managed to take a traditional route and settled the matter through that, while others are still waiting for legal outcomes.
ICU
He added that most Namibians did not treat him fairly while he was in the intensive care unit (ICU), as people were already looking for him with regards to the accident.
“I suffered all sorts of intimidation, even when I was still receiving treatment in hospital. When I just got out of the ICU, I was informed that certain people were looking for me,” he recalled. He described the incident as one of the most difficult moments in his otherwise immaculate career.
Fateful night
Shikongo was driving his private vehicle when it collided head-on with another car.
The accident took place on the Oshikango-Ondangwa road. It sparked widespread public outrage and calls for accountability.
The Namibian Police has since launched an investigation into the matter, focusing on potential charges of culpable homicide, and reckless and/or negligent driving.
“I have undergone operations four times because of that accident. I was also admitted to the ICU. But yeah, as a leader, you have to go through difficult moments such as this. With time, it shall come to pass,” he stated.
Deputy inspector general for operations Elias Mutota confirmed that police have completed investigations into the accident.
“The investigations have been finalised. We handed over the docket in June to the Office of the Prosecutor General for a decision,” he said.
Contacted for an update, Prosecutor General Martha Imalwa confirmed receiving the case file from her office in Oshakati.
“The accident occurred in the north, and the docket was submitted to my office in Oshakati. While I cannot provide an exact date due to being out of office, I assure you that my office has received the docket, and is working on it,” she stated.
The PG, however, hastened to note that her office is prioritising other cases which are already in court before attending to Shikongo’s docket. “Due to understaffing and the heavy workload of the assisting advocates, my office is following a first-come, first-served approach”, she added.
Despite these challenges, Imalwa reiterated that her office is working on Shikongo’s case, and will make recommendations as soon as they can.