Shhhh … don’t talk about Shalli

INFORMATION Minister Joel Kaapanda says President Hifikepunye Pohamba used his prerogative to suspend only Lieutenant General Martin Shalli, although two names were reportedly submitted to him with a recommendation to suspend both.

Well-placed sources said another top military man was also on the list, as he allegedly also had some US dollars deposited into his account from China.The officer, whose name is known to The Namibian but cannot be published at this stage, allegedly has close ties with Shalli, the chief of the Namibian Defence Force.Kaapanda told the media on Friday afternoon that it was President Pohamba’s prerogative to decide who to suspend.Yesterday, Swapo deputy secretary general Nangolo Mbumba said the party did not condone corruption and will allow the law to take its course.Secretary General Pendukeni Iivula-Ithana said corruption was a disease in Namibia but was not unique to the party cadres.’When malaria attacks it does not select on party affiliation and you need the affected ones as individuals. Crime like corruption is also not party-affiliated.’ On Friday Kaapanda said Government was disappointed and concerned that Shalli’s suspension was given a ‘political flavour’ by linking it to tensions within the ruling Swapo Party.’The Government finds it irresponsible and dangerous that the opposition and anonymous sources quoted in newspaper reports suggest that Lt Gen Shalli’s suspension is tied to internal frictions within Swapo, also implicating that those close to the founding President have a hand in it,’ Kaapanda said.On Wednesday, Presidential Affairs Minister Albert Kawana said the suspension followed ‘serious allegations of irregularities which must be thoroughly investigated’.He said Shalli’s suspension would facilitate an unhindered investigation.’Stirring up emotions and inventing political motives as reason for Lt Gen Shalli’s suspension are unnecessary and uncalled for and may compromise the peace, security and stability that we have been enjoying in Namibia since Independence,’ Kaapanda said.He called on he public to allow the investigation to take its course.’Information on the investigation and its findings will be shared with the public at the opportune time,’ Kaapanda said.Shalli was suspended after it was alleged that he had received kickbacks in a deal with a Chinese company – but through a third party in whose account the money was deposited in Zambia. When the Zambian intelligence and Police caught the person, she is believed to have spilled the beans and was handed over to the Namibian Police and the Anti-Corruption Commission.It is not clear whether the suspension will lead to the prosecution of Shalli.Those in the know say they are dealing with a very ‘sensitive case’ as it involves the head of the armed forces.Sources said Shalli explained that some US$250 000 was transferred to him from China from people who had rented his house in Windhoek for a year.However, they claimed he had millions of Namibia dollars transferred to him through a staff member at Namibia’s High Commission in Zambia.christof@namibian.com.na