Ambassador recalled after sexual assault claims
Namibia has recalled its ambassador to Senegal, Elvis Shiweda, amid allegations that he attempted to rape a Namibian staff member at the embassy – a claim he vehemently denies.
The alleged attack took place in August 2023 outside Shiweda’s official residence in the capital Dakar, while he was escorting her to her car.
The woman, who cannot be named due to the rape allegation, is said to have been sent from pillar to post since reporting the matter to her employer - the Namibian ministry of international relations. Her bosses allegedly refused to pursue the matter, telling her that “all embassies have their issues”.
Sources said the international relations minister at the time, Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, was informed and a ministerial team was sent to Senegal to investigate the allegations. Yesterday she did not return the newspaper’s calls.
This is in part due to Shiweda allegedly claiming that he had a consensual intimate affair with the woman. He reportedly told his principals that the woman was his lover, who at one point demanded that he must leave his wife for her. The woman denied ever being Shiweda’s lover.
The alleged victim has been recalled from Senegal too, a decision that has left many in the ministry baffled.
When contacted, Shiweda told Namibian Sun that he would not comment on the matter and referred the newspaper to the ministry.
He, however, vehemently denied the accusation.
It is understood that after the alleged sexual assault attempt, the victim took a three-week leave of absence and sought psychological help.
Current international relations minister Peya Mushelenga said he has not been briefed on the matter since joining the ministry in February.
“I don’t have enough information regarding this incident, so I am not the right person to comment on this at the moment,” he said.
It is now understood that the alleged victim is contemplating pursuing criminal charges locally against Shiweda.
The alleged attack took place in August 2023 outside Shiweda’s official residence in the capital Dakar, while he was escorting her to her car.
The woman, who cannot be named due to the rape allegation, is said to have been sent from pillar to post since reporting the matter to her employer - the Namibian ministry of international relations. Her bosses allegedly refused to pursue the matter, telling her that “all embassies have their issues”.
Sources said the international relations minister at the time, Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, was informed and a ministerial team was sent to Senegal to investigate the allegations. Yesterday she did not return the newspaper’s calls.
This is in part due to Shiweda allegedly claiming that he had a consensual intimate affair with the woman. He reportedly told his principals that the woman was his lover, who at one point demanded that he must leave his wife for her. The woman denied ever being Shiweda’s lover.
The alleged victim has been recalled from Senegal too, a decision that has left many in the ministry baffled.
When contacted, Shiweda told Namibian Sun that he would not comment on the matter and referred the newspaper to the ministry.
He, however, vehemently denied the accusation.
It is understood that after the alleged sexual assault attempt, the victim took a three-week leave of absence and sought psychological help.
Current international relations minister Peya Mushelenga said he has not been briefed on the matter since joining the ministry in February.
“I don’t have enough information regarding this incident, so I am not the right person to comment on this at the moment,” he said.
It is now understood that the alleged victim is contemplating pursuing criminal charges locally against Shiweda.
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