Swapo MPs defend SFF

SOME Swapo MPs have been angered by opposition claims in the National Assembly that the conduct of members of the Police Special Field Force (SFF) was not up to scratch and that they required more extensive training, especially in dealing with the public.

The Congress of Democrats’ Linus Chata was first to take to the floor on Tuesday to ask the House to support suggestions by his party for improving the current situation saying the SFF was “intimidating” and “harassing” people instead of protecting them. He maintained that the Police leadership should be held responsible for the conduct of the SFF.Chata alleged that SFF members were semi-literate and many incapable of communicating in the official language – English.He said this situation was often a reason for conflict between SFF and ordinary members of the public.”The grave communication handicap which is born of low levels of literacy is at the bottom of the problem,” Chata said.”Until such time that the training of the SFF is addressed and as long as these members continue to serve a vibrant and diverse Namibian society, complaints against them will not cease,” he said.Chata was supported by DTA’s Phillemon Moongo who said the SFF were “too rough and lack tolerance whenever they handle an investigation”.But Swapo MPs brushed off the claims as the opposition’s attempt to incite propaganda and as an electioneering tactic.Deputy Minister of Home Affairs Loide Kasingo was first to try and shoot down the claims saying Chata’s argument was not based on proper research of the kind of training the SFF received.Minister of Higher Education Nahas Angula was most angered by the remarks of the opposition, saying they were unfairly “bashing” the SFF – a move he said was “shameful” and “unpatriotic”.Acknowledging that the SFF had come into unfortunate encounters with the public on occasion, Angula said the harsh conditions under which they worked had to be considered.”I am not saying the SFF have not done anything wrong.We all make our mistakes.They [the public] are supposed to make a case and let the courts pronounce itself,” he said “If they are so brutal, why are they not reported?” Angula supported by Deputy Minister of Prisons and Correctional Services Jeremiah Nambinga and the Director-General of the Namibia Central Intelligence Services Peter Tsheehama added that it was “immaterial” that the SFF were not proficient in the English language.Nambinga was of the opinion that if it were not for the SFF, calm would not have been restored to the Caprivi following the 1999 attempted secessionist attack.”In every society you will find undisciplined elements – even in our own houses.If one of your children misbehaves would it be fair to condemn all of them?,” said Nambinga.Finance Minister Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila said the House should move away from “Police-bashing” saying it was being used by the opposition as an attempt to be noticed without giving them the praise they are due.”We recognise the human rights of all Namibians.Sometimes situations may warrant a firm hand to protect the community at large,” she said.After nearly two hours of debate, Home Affairs Minister Jerry Ekandjo was quick to conclude the item, branding the motion “a waste of time”.He dispelled reports alleging that the Police had in the past kidnapped and tortured people.The CoD’s Ignatius Shixwameni requested to continue the debate yesterday, but Ekandjo demanded that the House be declared divided on the issue.Speaker Mose Tjitendero ruled that the debate on the issue be discontinued.He maintained that the Police leadership should be held responsible for the conduct of the SFF.Chata alleged that SFF members were semi-literate and many incapable of communicating in the official language – English.He said this situation was often a reason for conflict between SFF and ordinary members of the public.”The grave communication handicap which is born of low levels of literacy is at the bottom of the problem,” Chata said.”Until such time that the training of the SFF is addressed and as long as these members continue to serve a vibrant and diverse Namibian society, complaints against them will not cease,” he said.Chata was supported by DTA’s Phillemon Moongo who said the SFF were “too rough and lack tolerance whenever they handle an investigation”.But Swapo MPs brushed off the claims as the opposition’s attempt to incite propaganda and as an electioneering tactic.Deputy Minister of Home Affairs Loide Kasingo was first to try and shoot down the claims saying Chata’s argument was not based on proper research of the kind of training the SFF received.Minister of Higher Education Nahas Angula was most angered by the remarks of the opposition, saying they were unfairly “bashing” the SFF – a move he said was “shameful” and “unpatriotic”.Acknowledging that the SFF had come into unfortunate encounters with the public on occasion, Angula said the harsh conditions under which they worked had to be considered.”I am not saying the SFF have not done anything wrong.We all make our mistakes.They [the public] are supposed to make a case and let the courts pronounce itself,” he said “If they are so brutal, why are they not reported?” Angula supported by Deputy Minister of Prisons and Correctional Services Jeremiah Nambinga and the Director-General of the Namibia Central Intelligence Services Peter Tsheehama added that it was “immaterial” that the SFF were not proficient in the English language.Nambinga was of the opinion that if it were not for the SFF, calm would not have been restored to the Caprivi following the 1999 attempted secessionist attack.”In every society you will find undisciplined elements – even in our own houses.If one of your children misbehaves would it be fair to condemn all of them?,” said Nambinga.Finance Minister Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila said the House should move away from “Police-bashing” saying it was being used by the opposition as an attempt to be noticed without giving them the praise they are due.”We recognise the human rights of all Namibians.Sometimes situations may warrant a firm hand to protect the community at large,” she said.After nearly two hours of debate, Home Affairs Minister Jerry Ekandjo was quick to conclude the item, branding the motion “a waste of time”.He dispelled reports alleging that the Police had in the past kidnapped and tortured people.The CoD’s Ignatius Shixwameni requested to continue the debate yesterday, but Ekandjo demanded that the House be declared divided on the issue.Speaker Mose Tjitendero ruled that the debate on the issue be discontinued.