Ref: 13/6/13
24 July 2009

MEDIA RELEASE ON THE SUSPENSION OF LT. GEN. MARTIN SHALLI

The Namibian Government is disappointed and very concerned that the suspension of Lt. Gen. Martin Shalli as Chief of the Namibian Defence Force is being given a political flavour through articles that appeared in The Namibian on Thursday, 23 July 2009 and Friday, 24 July 2009.

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.

It was clear from the release issued under the hand of the Minister of Presidential Affairs, Hon. Dr. Albert Kawana, that the suspension stems from “serious allegations of irregularities which must be thoroughly investigated within the letter and spirit of the laws of our Republic”.

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.

The Government is, therefore, calling on citizens who have the interest of the country at heart, 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.


SIGNED


MBEUTA UA-NDJARAKANA
PERMANENT SECRETARY