No rift between Geingob, Malima - Govt

Government has dismissed reports that there is simmering tension between President Hage Geingob and the Director-General of the Namibia Central Intelligence Services, Phillemon Malima, over the SME Bank saga.
The ministry of information was reacting to a front page article that appeared in a weekly newspaper last week.
The Windhoek Observer reported that Malima was once again in trouble after he allegedly remarked to attorney-general Sacky Shanghala that Geingob was protecting criminals involved in the SME Bank saga.
“Impeccable sources told the Windhoek Observer this week that the spy agency chief’s relationship with the president continue to be strained after he was asked to resign or risk being fired in early June, over remarks he made to Shanghala following a Cabinet meeting sometime in May. The Windhoek Observer has it on good authority that Geingob and Malima have been ruffling each other’s feathers for some time,” the Windhoek Observer reported.
The weekly further said sources claimed that mines and energy minister, Obeth Kandjoze, overheard their conversation and reported Malima to Geingob, who then wrote a letter to Malima, asking him to resign or risk being fired.
“At no point has the president instructed the director-general to resign or risk being dismissed as being alleged. This could not be true as there has never been ground for such instruction. However, it is a standing truth that all political office-bearers serve at the behest of their appointing authority, the president,” the statement read.
STAFF REPORTER