Dafonsech leaves north amid fallout with Ohangwena police chief
TUYEIMO HAIDULA
OSHAKATI
Police Chief Inspector Christina van Dunem Dafonsech's mission to the north, where she was sent to crack down on fake churches and traditional healers, has been cut short after Ohangwena police regional commander, Commissioner Elizabeth Sibolile, ‘chased’ her out of the region.
Dafonsech was on a two-week mission assigned by Inspector General Sebastian Ndeitunga to root out pastors of 'fake' churches and to engage as well as educate the community to fall prey to these churches.
She also used the platform to educate the pastors of these churches to follow the correct procedure when starting a place of worship and to make sure they are registered. Dafonsech also the pastors that they need to study theology for at least four years before they can be called priests.
Last Tuesday, Dafonsech closed down the True Gospel Ministry at Oshikango and the Full Gospel Church of God at Omupindi village. She also went undercover and caught a fake Zimbabwean healer who has been operating at Eenhana for 15 years. Her trip and blockbuster moves were covered by the media, which reportedly irritated Sibolile.
Namibian Sun received a tip-off that Dafonsech left the region after she clashed with the regional commander.
Ndeitunga confirmed the issue, saying Dafonsech is back in Windhoek and will return to complete her mission once the hostility has been ironed out.
‘A simple issue’
The police chief was rather irritated that Sibolile could not sort out what he termed a “simple issue”. Ndeitunga said while he admits his mistake of not having communicated to Sibolile properly that he was sending Dafonsech for the mission in her region, Sibolile could have confirmed it by calling him.
“The region is not yours; it is for the nation. She was supposed to ask me and I can confirm,” he said.
Ndeitunga said when he visited the region about two weeks ago, he was not happy and accused some of the officers at the town of failing to perform their duties.
His decision to send Dafonsech answered a plea from the public, saying she would assist members of the community to deal with the fake churches, he said.
“I was there at Ohangwena. People are crying and they need her help. I sent her there for [a] specific [reason]. When people heard she [was] there, everyone [was] asking for help, but we want to turn them away?
“She even drove her own car and was using her own fuel. All she needed was teamwork from the higher office,” Ndeitunga lamented.
Internal affairs
On Monday, Sibolile refused to comment when questioned whether she asked Dafonsech to leave the region.
“This is an internal matter and I don’t discuss internal affairs with the media. Thank you very much,” she said before hanging up.
– [email protected]
OSHAKATI
Police Chief Inspector Christina van Dunem Dafonsech's mission to the north, where she was sent to crack down on fake churches and traditional healers, has been cut short after Ohangwena police regional commander, Commissioner Elizabeth Sibolile, ‘chased’ her out of the region.
Dafonsech was on a two-week mission assigned by Inspector General Sebastian Ndeitunga to root out pastors of 'fake' churches and to engage as well as educate the community to fall prey to these churches.
She also used the platform to educate the pastors of these churches to follow the correct procedure when starting a place of worship and to make sure they are registered. Dafonsech also the pastors that they need to study theology for at least four years before they can be called priests.
Last Tuesday, Dafonsech closed down the True Gospel Ministry at Oshikango and the Full Gospel Church of God at Omupindi village. She also went undercover and caught a fake Zimbabwean healer who has been operating at Eenhana for 15 years. Her trip and blockbuster moves were covered by the media, which reportedly irritated Sibolile.
Namibian Sun received a tip-off that Dafonsech left the region after she clashed with the regional commander.
Ndeitunga confirmed the issue, saying Dafonsech is back in Windhoek and will return to complete her mission once the hostility has been ironed out.
‘A simple issue’
The police chief was rather irritated that Sibolile could not sort out what he termed a “simple issue”. Ndeitunga said while he admits his mistake of not having communicated to Sibolile properly that he was sending Dafonsech for the mission in her region, Sibolile could have confirmed it by calling him.
“The region is not yours; it is for the nation. She was supposed to ask me and I can confirm,” he said.
Ndeitunga said when he visited the region about two weeks ago, he was not happy and accused some of the officers at the town of failing to perform their duties.
His decision to send Dafonsech answered a plea from the public, saying she would assist members of the community to deal with the fake churches, he said.
“I was there at Ohangwena. People are crying and they need her help. I sent her there for [a] specific [reason]. When people heard she [was] there, everyone [was] asking for help, but we want to turn them away?
“She even drove her own car and was using her own fuel. All she needed was teamwork from the higher office,” Ndeitunga lamented.
Internal affairs
On Monday, Sibolile refused to comment when questioned whether she asked Dafonsech to leave the region.
“This is an internal matter and I don’t discuss internal affairs with the media. Thank you very much,” she said before hanging up.
– [email protected]
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