‘Scandals’ cost Ndevashiya
Governor outed in dramatic change
Officials say the outgoing governor 'humiliated' Swapo and government through a series of perceived scandals.
A series of widely-publicised scandals, including allegations of a fatal love affair, prompted the sacking of Ohangwena governor Walde Ndevashiya yesterday, Cabinet insiders told Namibian Sun.
While officials close to President Hage Geingob yesterday poured cold water over assertions that Ndevashiya was fired over an alleged love triangle that led to the death of a woman in October, others insist this was the last straw for the head of state.
Officials in the executive told Namibian Sun that Ndevashiya, who has been replaced by former national police chief Sebastian Ndeitunga, did not perform to the satisfaction of Geingob who, in a shocking development yesterday, relieved the former Eenhana CEO of his duties as governor.
He was not reassigned to any new position in government.
Love triangle
In early October, Ndevashiya had to defend himself against allegations that he fathered children out of wedlock with Eva Leena Kalimbo (31) - who was violently murdered by her lover Laurence Kapule Ndaoya (43) over allegations of infidelity.
Ndaoya, who was killed by police during a scuffle as he was being arrested, allegedly told associates he was upset that DNA results showed he was not the father of Kalimbo’s children as he was made to believe since their birth.
In a lengthy recorded call before he was killed, Ndaoya accused Ndevashiya of having a long-running affair with Kalimbo, and suggested he was her children’s father.
Ndevashiya denied the allegations and threatened to sue another man who allegedly made similar claims in a viral audio recording after the murder tragedy.
Humiliating
But officials yesterday denied that the alleged affair had anything to do with Ndevashiya’s sacking - despite its timing.
“No, there have been administrative issues that Geingob wasn’t happy about and that’s why he was removed,” an official said.
However, others in Ohangwena insist the governor was fired over a series of humiliating allegations, including the alleged Kalimbo affair and legal action instituted against him after he reportedly failed to settle payment for a tailored suit worth N$49 400.
“These events are just deemed too humiliating to the government and Swapo. A person at his level cannot be in the news every other time for these kinds of things,” a politician said.
Ndeitunga’s surprise appointment takes effect today, 16 November.
“As per the terms of reference, the new governor will be expected to ensure that programmes and projects in the Ohangwena Region are fully implemented in line with the budgetary allocation,” the presidency said in a statement.
“The governor is also directed to coordinate his functions with offices, ministries and agencies in order to achieve efficient service delivery for the inhabitants of the region.
“President Geingob takes this opportunity to express confidence and trust in the ability, commitment and fairness with which [Ndeitunga] will be expected to discharge his duties and responsibilities as the regional governor of Ohangwena.”
Immediate effect
On Ndevashiya, the presidency said: “Subject to the provisions of [the] constitution or any other law, any persons appointed by the president - pursuant to the powers vested in him or her by this constitution or any other law - may be removed by the president by the same process through which such person was appointed. President Geingob hereby relieves [Ndevashiya] of his duties as governor of the Ohangwena Region with immediate effect from 16 November.”
“President Geingob would like to thank the outgoing governor for his service during his tenure,” the statement added.
Efforts to get comment from Ndevashiya proved futile.
While officials close to President Hage Geingob yesterday poured cold water over assertions that Ndevashiya was fired over an alleged love triangle that led to the death of a woman in October, others insist this was the last straw for the head of state.
Officials in the executive told Namibian Sun that Ndevashiya, who has been replaced by former national police chief Sebastian Ndeitunga, did not perform to the satisfaction of Geingob who, in a shocking development yesterday, relieved the former Eenhana CEO of his duties as governor.
He was not reassigned to any new position in government.
Love triangle
In early October, Ndevashiya had to defend himself against allegations that he fathered children out of wedlock with Eva Leena Kalimbo (31) - who was violently murdered by her lover Laurence Kapule Ndaoya (43) over allegations of infidelity.
Ndaoya, who was killed by police during a scuffle as he was being arrested, allegedly told associates he was upset that DNA results showed he was not the father of Kalimbo’s children as he was made to believe since their birth.
In a lengthy recorded call before he was killed, Ndaoya accused Ndevashiya of having a long-running affair with Kalimbo, and suggested he was her children’s father.
Ndevashiya denied the allegations and threatened to sue another man who allegedly made similar claims in a viral audio recording after the murder tragedy.
Humiliating
But officials yesterday denied that the alleged affair had anything to do with Ndevashiya’s sacking - despite its timing.
“No, there have been administrative issues that Geingob wasn’t happy about and that’s why he was removed,” an official said.
However, others in Ohangwena insist the governor was fired over a series of humiliating allegations, including the alleged Kalimbo affair and legal action instituted against him after he reportedly failed to settle payment for a tailored suit worth N$49 400.
“These events are just deemed too humiliating to the government and Swapo. A person at his level cannot be in the news every other time for these kinds of things,” a politician said.
Ndeitunga’s surprise appointment takes effect today, 16 November.
“As per the terms of reference, the new governor will be expected to ensure that programmes and projects in the Ohangwena Region are fully implemented in line with the budgetary allocation,” the presidency said in a statement.
“The governor is also directed to coordinate his functions with offices, ministries and agencies in order to achieve efficient service delivery for the inhabitants of the region.
“President Geingob takes this opportunity to express confidence and trust in the ability, commitment and fairness with which [Ndeitunga] will be expected to discharge his duties and responsibilities as the regional governor of Ohangwena.”
Immediate effect
On Ndevashiya, the presidency said: “Subject to the provisions of [the] constitution or any other law, any persons appointed by the president - pursuant to the powers vested in him or her by this constitution or any other law - may be removed by the president by the same process through which such person was appointed. President Geingob hereby relieves [Ndevashiya] of his duties as governor of the Ohangwena Region with immediate effect from 16 November.”
“President Geingob would like to thank the outgoing governor for his service during his tenure,” the statement added.
Efforts to get comment from Ndevashiya proved futile.
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