No pictures please, this is State House

THE tourism value of the beautifully restored and centrally-located President’s official residence at Swakopmund is fast being eroded by Police officers guarding the premises.

More and more incidents are reported of tourists being confronted by members of the VIP Police Unit responsible for guarding the coastal State House. The officers charge that it is illegal to take photos of the residence and order people to move away – often in a rude and threatening manner.On Sunday a French-speaking couple who wanted to take a photo of the lighthouse was confronted by three Police members – one dressed in camouflage uniform and two dressed in civilian clothes.According to a visitor to Swakopmund, Andries Bester – who witnessed the incident – the French couple was very agitated and nervous.”As they could hardly speak any English, they had no idea what was going on and what the officers wanted,” Bester told The Namibian.He said the woman was in a state of shock and her face as white as a sheet.It appeared that the angle they were photographing the lighthouse from included a section of the State House in the background.Bester said the female Police officer insisted there was a sign at State House to inform visitors not to take photos, but in fact there is only a “no entry” sign on the entrance gate to the House.In April, The Namibian reported about a wedding party that were threatened with a gun by a Police officer on guard when they were trying to take photos in the public garden outside the official residence.Bester said when he reported Sunday’s incident with the French couple to Chief Inspector Benhard Uirab at the Swakopmund Police Station, he was told it was the third complaint so far this year.According to Chief Inspector Angulu Amulungu, there is no law that prohibits photographing State House.He said, though, there was indeed a clause dealing with the security of these premises.”These officers might be acting because they felt there was a security breach.”Amulungu added that officers tend to interpret the security clause differently.He agreed that the current situation was not conducive to tourism and that the situation would have to be addressed.Almuth Styles of the tourism information centre Namib-i said her office often get complaints from tourists who had been told not to take photos at State House.The officers charge that it is illegal to take photos of the residence and order people to move away – often in a rude and threatening manner.On Sunday a French-speaking couple who wanted to take a photo of the lighthouse was confronted by three Police members – one dressed in camouflage uniform and two dressed in civilian clothes.According to a visitor to Swakopmund, Andries Bester – who witnessed the incident – the French couple was very agitated and nervous.”As they could hardly speak any English, they had no idea what was going on and what the officers wanted,” Bester told The Namibian.He said the woman was in a state of shock and her face as white as a sheet.It appeared that the angle they were photographing the lighthouse from included a section of the State House in the background.Bester said the female Police officer insisted there was a sign at State House to inform visitors not to take photos, but in fact there is only a “no entry” sign on the entrance gate to the House.In April, The Namibian reported about a wedding party that were threatened with a gun by a Police officer on guard when they were trying to take photos in the public garden outside the official residence.Bester said when he reported Sunday’s incident with the French couple to Chief Inspector Benhard Uirab at the Swakopmund Police Station, he was told it was the third complaint so far this year.According to Chief Inspector Angulu Amulungu, there is no law that prohibits photographing State House.He said, though, there was indeed a clause dealing with the security of these premises.”These officers might be acting because they felt there was a security breach.”Amulungu added that officers tend to interpret the security clause differently.He agreed that the current situation was not conducive to tourism and that the situation would have to be addressed.Almuth Styles of the tourism information centre Namib-i said her office often get complaints from tourists who had been told not to take photos at State House.