Pohamba dragged into Confidente panga scare

WINDHOEKTOIVO NDJEBELA

President Hifikepunye Pohamba's name has been drawn into a near-fatal, panga-wielding confrontation between a group of businessmen who met at the offices of weekly newspaper Confidente yesterday and staged a spectacular physical fight over a business deal that seemingly went wrong.
Members of the Namibian Police and the Windhoek City Police had to be called in to avert what was fast degenerating into a full-blown fight between Denis Nestor, supposedly a cousin of President Pohamba, and small-scale miner Norbert Rukoro.
The two met at the offices of Confidente, as the newspaper was putting the final touches to a story detailing how Rukoro was allegedly duped into paying N$190 000 to Nestor, who would in turn use his family connection to Pohamba to facilitate a loan application for Rukoro.
Rukoro had apparently applied for a N$2 million loan at the Development Bank of Namibia (DBN), and roped in Nestor - who allegedly claimed to have good 'connections' at the DBN - to smooth the way.
In return for pulling strings to secure the loan, Nestor apparently received N$190 000 from Rukoro.
It is said that the DBN did not approve the loan and this was what sparked the controversy that now threatens Pohamba's reputation and legacy.
Confidente was working on this story, and sought comment from both Nestor and Rukoro. Ironically, both had offered to go to the newspaper's offices to comment on the matter - and that's where things went badly wrong, according to Confidente editor Max Hamata and his visibly shaken reporters.
It is said that Nestor arrived at the Confidente offices yesterday morning in the company of a certain Gustav Katjirokere, who is apparently a relative of Rukoro's.
The two gave their version and left before Rukoro arrived at the Confidente offices to give his side of the story.
But while Rukoro was there, Nestor and Katjirokere returned to the Confidente offices and ran into the man they are accused of duping.
An infuriated Rukoro apparently went to his car to fetch a panga and a canister of pepper spray - and chased Katjirokere around the weekly newspaper's offices.
“Gustav grabbed me and used me as a shield as he was ducking from Norbert's onslaught,” said Confidente reporter Patience Nyangove.
After a brief physical confrontation, a terrified Katjirokere allegedly ran into a toilet and locked himself in. After he unsuccessfully tried to break the toilet's door, an angry Rukoro turned his wrath onto Nestor and punched him several times, eyewitnesses said.
Katjirokere then used the opportunity to run to his car and speed away, it was further revealed. The police then arrived at the scene to disperse the warring parties.
Hamata said the incident was an act of pure intimidation, which would harm the freedom of the press in Namibia.
“The lives of my journalists were at risk. This incident will obviously affect the future execution of their duties because of these hooligans who had to be separated by the police,” said Hamata, adding that he had taken up the matter with the police.