Africa-Press – Namibia. POLICE inspector general Sebastian Ndeitunga says it is still within his power to promote different rank officers despite facing the end of his 17-year-old tenure in about a month.
“These promotions are due and the next person who will take over from me will only have the promotions after August. And if you have seen, people are retiring to rest. I can’t leave that, it is still in my power. We have seen that they are taking all those retiring while I’m still in power and they have to fill their positions,” he said.
Since last month, there have been promotions in the force to replace regional commanders who are retiring and some who have been deployed on diplomatic missions.
The decision to do promotions has been questioned by some members of the force who want to know why Ndeitunga cannot leave the person who will take over from him to do the promotions.
Ndeitunga also refuted claims that the two female officers who were promoted were his way of diffusing issues around discrimination against women when it comes to promotions in the police.
He appointed commissioner Teopoline Kalompo-Nashikaku as the new commander for Oshikoto region and Lavinia Shaxula as the principal staff officer in his office.
According to Ndeitunga, promotions are still ongoing, which will also include low-ranking officers.
“I’m not done. I will only be done after 31 August when I’m gone. I’m still coming with the other promotions. Probably not only for women, but [also] for those who deserve to be promoted and they take positions that are strategic,” said Ndeitunga.
He added that promotions will cut across all tribes and races and not just gender.
“You also have to make sure that your force encompasses leadership from different ethnic groups which are very important, not only a group but also different races. Diversity of culture and race is important to the leadership of our country,” he said.
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