I wasn’t sacked over alcohol – Kashikola
Deputy minister breaks silence
The departing deputy minister has ruled out alcoholism as a factor in his abrupt dismissal on Tuesday night.
Former home affairs deputy minister Daniel Kashikola brushed off the hype around his Tuesday night sacking by President Hage Geingob and denied suggestions he was sacked over alcohol abuse.
He was arrested in December 2019 for allegedly driving under the influence of alcohol and was released on N$8 000 bail. Suggestions that he was again arrested last weekend for the same offence appear to be untrue.
Yesterday, Kashikola said his drunken driving case was thrown out for lack of evidence, although laboratory tests presented in court in April 2020 suggested he had excessive levels of alcohol in his body when he was arrested.
“When people are insinuating things, it is better not to respond. That case is fake, that is why it was thrown out. I shall not entertain any rumour or insinuations or anything,” Kashikola said.
No explanation
He told Namibian Sun that Geingob did not explain why he was being sacked, saying the head of state had no legal obligation to do so.
He therefore does not feel hard done by the late-night decision to remove him from the job and replace him with Lucia Witbooi.
“The president constitutionally has the power to appoint and move or even reappoint ministers, which is an exercise that I have no problem with,” Kashikola said.
“I have accepted his decision, so I do not have any questions and he is not bound to explain.
“He is not expected to explain anything to me. People can bring up things, but being relieved is a discretion of the president. He used his discretion to appoint me for two consecutive terms."
Falling-out
Namibian Sun understands that there has been a ‘falling-out’ between Kashikola and Geingob.
Some have suggested that the dismissal will not be received kindly in the camp of Swapo vice-president Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, with Kashikola being one of her staunch supporters.
“He was a key figure in the Netumbo campaign prior to congress in 2022 and people in that camp will be looking at this situation closely. The decision sounds political,” a source said.
But others have suggested that Geingob was not impressed with the deputy minister’s overall performance and discipline at work.
One official said there have been conversations in the past between the two men over such concerns, which have not improved, leading to the drastic decision to relieve Kashikola of his duties.
Kashikola defended his record yesterday, saying he was proud of the ministry’s gains during his time there.
“I have my highlights as a minister, but I have not done it alone; I have done it with a team. You know the ministry of home affairs, it is no longer the old home affairs. But it is not my own achievement, but a collective achievement,” he said.
Ready to serve
Looking ahead, he said he remains ready to serve the Namibian nation.
“I always had plans before. I remain a member of parliament, I continue to serve the Namibian people to the best of my ability and I will continue with nation-building,” Kashikola said.
“I am a cadre, I am a Namibian patriot and I shall continue to serve my people and do the right things.”
He was arrested in December 2019 for allegedly driving under the influence of alcohol and was released on N$8 000 bail. Suggestions that he was again arrested last weekend for the same offence appear to be untrue.
Yesterday, Kashikola said his drunken driving case was thrown out for lack of evidence, although laboratory tests presented in court in April 2020 suggested he had excessive levels of alcohol in his body when he was arrested.
“When people are insinuating things, it is better not to respond. That case is fake, that is why it was thrown out. I shall not entertain any rumour or insinuations or anything,” Kashikola said.
No explanation
He told Namibian Sun that Geingob did not explain why he was being sacked, saying the head of state had no legal obligation to do so.
He therefore does not feel hard done by the late-night decision to remove him from the job and replace him with Lucia Witbooi.
“The president constitutionally has the power to appoint and move or even reappoint ministers, which is an exercise that I have no problem with,” Kashikola said.
“I have accepted his decision, so I do not have any questions and he is not bound to explain.
“He is not expected to explain anything to me. People can bring up things, but being relieved is a discretion of the president. He used his discretion to appoint me for two consecutive terms."
Falling-out
Namibian Sun understands that there has been a ‘falling-out’ between Kashikola and Geingob.
Some have suggested that the dismissal will not be received kindly in the camp of Swapo vice-president Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, with Kashikola being one of her staunch supporters.
“He was a key figure in the Netumbo campaign prior to congress in 2022 and people in that camp will be looking at this situation closely. The decision sounds political,” a source said.
But others have suggested that Geingob was not impressed with the deputy minister’s overall performance and discipline at work.
One official said there have been conversations in the past between the two men over such concerns, which have not improved, leading to the drastic decision to relieve Kashikola of his duties.
Kashikola defended his record yesterday, saying he was proud of the ministry’s gains during his time there.
“I have my highlights as a minister, but I have not done it alone; I have done it with a team. You know the ministry of home affairs, it is no longer the old home affairs. But it is not my own achievement, but a collective achievement,” he said.
Ready to serve
Looking ahead, he said he remains ready to serve the Namibian nation.
“I always had plans before. I remain a member of parliament, I continue to serve the Namibian people to the best of my ability and I will continue with nation-building,” Kashikola said.
“I am a cadre, I am a Namibian patriot and I shall continue to serve my people and do the right things.”
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