Second Endjala apology incomplete
It appears as though the governor for Omusati Region, Erginus Endjala, has not taken President Hage Geingob's instruction to offer a sincere apology, seriously.
In a statement issued by State House press secretary Albertus Aochamub, Geingob ordered Endjala to prepare an apology that is unreserved, unequivocal and unconditional for widely reported tribal remarks. However, Endjala only issued a one-sentence apology that does not appear to be complete.
In his second apology, Endjala stated that he has had time to deeply reflect on what he said and therefore wishes to unequivocally apologise.
President Geingob had written a strongly worded letter on 27 July to Endjala in which he said the apology issued last Monday falls far short of a comprehensive statement of regret.
A day after Geingob's letter, Endjala issued an apology on Friday saying, “Since the social media distribution of my recorded tribal utterances, I have taken time to deeply reflect and I have realised that my utterances fell short of the standard expected of a leader of a constitutional office bearer and indeed a direct representative of the President in the Omusati Region.”
“I therefore wish to unequivocally apologise for….”
This is in contrast to the State House letter that reportedly quotes Endjala's first apology “I apologise if it offended or inconvenienced anybody.”
Geingob had said to Endjala, “As my representative in the region I expect you to uphold the highest standards of leadership and constitutional principles, especially with regards to fostering peace and harmonious relations in the region. Your unfortunate tribal utterances therefore are counterproductive and diminishing our concerted effort to build an inclusive Namibian House – where all tribes and races live in unity and harmony.”
Endjala came under fire following the circulation of various recordings involving him and a female friend. The tapes went viral, prompting outrage, especially on social media.
At a hastily arranged media briefing last Monday, Endjala denied being a tribalist, saying he had been trapped by his long-time friend, Taimi Tekla Iimbili, with whom he engaged in various lengthy conversations busy making their rounds on social media.
He accused Iimbili of spreading the audio recording. “During this conversation, Taimi Tekla Iimbili had probing questions, with ulterior motives, whereby she specifically tried to lead me into that particular discussion, with her questions as set, which led to me innocently answering without knowing that I was being trapped for a specific reason, to portray me as a tribalist, which I am not,” said Endjala.
In first the recording Endjala is heard making mocking remarks about the political situation in the Oshikoto Region and the leadership disputes within the Ondonga Traditional Authority.
In the conversation Endjala also made reference to issues of the liberation struggle, labelling the Aandonga people as “ambitious and power hungry”.
Endjala went on to say that the current chaos in Swapo was being instigated by youth activist Job Amupanda and Swapo's Oshikoto regional coordinator, Armas Amukwiyu. Both Amupanda and Amukwiyu are Oshindonga speakers.
In another recording at a certain Simon Andjamba's house in Windhoek, he revealed that the company that won the tender to construct the home affairs ministry's head office in Windhoek has inflated the tender with N$40 million that could be used for political campaigns.
“They (Amukwiyu camp) are not on good terms politically. They were claiming that they have N$40 million for their campaigns that they obtained after they inflated the home affairs head office in Windhoek. Their company that won the tender sold the N$1 billion tender to the Chinese. They always do ethical dealings. After getting a tender they give it away to the Chinese and get their commissions,” said Endjala.
Endjala also stated in that recording that he was going to consult Founding President Sam Nujoma not to allow the controversial referral hospital not to be established in Oshana Region. He also suggested that his Oshana counterpart, Clemens Kashuupulwa, be sent into a foreign mission and get a new governor for the region.
“I have a meeting with tatekulu tomorrow afternoon and I am going to see how I can consult with him. My wish is that it will be only the two of us then I will advise him on three items. First is that the he must advise the health minister to remove the planned referral hospital from Oshana Region and take it either to Ohangwena and their district hospital must go ahead,” he said.
Endjala said that health minister Dr Bernard Haufiku is just a medical doctor without administration skills. He suggested that mines and energy deputy minister, Kornelia Shilunga is the best successor for Kashuupulwa.
ILENI NANDJATO
In a statement issued by State House press secretary Albertus Aochamub, Geingob ordered Endjala to prepare an apology that is unreserved, unequivocal and unconditional for widely reported tribal remarks. However, Endjala only issued a one-sentence apology that does not appear to be complete.
In his second apology, Endjala stated that he has had time to deeply reflect on what he said and therefore wishes to unequivocally apologise.
President Geingob had written a strongly worded letter on 27 July to Endjala in which he said the apology issued last Monday falls far short of a comprehensive statement of regret.
A day after Geingob's letter, Endjala issued an apology on Friday saying, “Since the social media distribution of my recorded tribal utterances, I have taken time to deeply reflect and I have realised that my utterances fell short of the standard expected of a leader of a constitutional office bearer and indeed a direct representative of the President in the Omusati Region.”
“I therefore wish to unequivocally apologise for….”
This is in contrast to the State House letter that reportedly quotes Endjala's first apology “I apologise if it offended or inconvenienced anybody.”
Geingob had said to Endjala, “As my representative in the region I expect you to uphold the highest standards of leadership and constitutional principles, especially with regards to fostering peace and harmonious relations in the region. Your unfortunate tribal utterances therefore are counterproductive and diminishing our concerted effort to build an inclusive Namibian House – where all tribes and races live in unity and harmony.”
Endjala came under fire following the circulation of various recordings involving him and a female friend. The tapes went viral, prompting outrage, especially on social media.
At a hastily arranged media briefing last Monday, Endjala denied being a tribalist, saying he had been trapped by his long-time friend, Taimi Tekla Iimbili, with whom he engaged in various lengthy conversations busy making their rounds on social media.
He accused Iimbili of spreading the audio recording. “During this conversation, Taimi Tekla Iimbili had probing questions, with ulterior motives, whereby she specifically tried to lead me into that particular discussion, with her questions as set, which led to me innocently answering without knowing that I was being trapped for a specific reason, to portray me as a tribalist, which I am not,” said Endjala.
In first the recording Endjala is heard making mocking remarks about the political situation in the Oshikoto Region and the leadership disputes within the Ondonga Traditional Authority.
In the conversation Endjala also made reference to issues of the liberation struggle, labelling the Aandonga people as “ambitious and power hungry”.
Endjala went on to say that the current chaos in Swapo was being instigated by youth activist Job Amupanda and Swapo's Oshikoto regional coordinator, Armas Amukwiyu. Both Amupanda and Amukwiyu are Oshindonga speakers.
In another recording at a certain Simon Andjamba's house in Windhoek, he revealed that the company that won the tender to construct the home affairs ministry's head office in Windhoek has inflated the tender with N$40 million that could be used for political campaigns.
“They (Amukwiyu camp) are not on good terms politically. They were claiming that they have N$40 million for their campaigns that they obtained after they inflated the home affairs head office in Windhoek. Their company that won the tender sold the N$1 billion tender to the Chinese. They always do ethical dealings. After getting a tender they give it away to the Chinese and get their commissions,” said Endjala.
Endjala also stated in that recording that he was going to consult Founding President Sam Nujoma not to allow the controversial referral hospital not to be established in Oshana Region. He also suggested that his Oshana counterpart, Clemens Kashuupulwa, be sent into a foreign mission and get a new governor for the region.
“I have a meeting with tatekulu tomorrow afternoon and I am going to see how I can consult with him. My wish is that it will be only the two of us then I will advise him on three items. First is that the he must advise the health minister to remove the planned referral hospital from Oshana Region and take it either to Ohangwena and their district hospital must go ahead,” he said.
Endjala said that health minister Dr Bernard Haufiku is just a medical doctor without administration skills. He suggested that mines and energy deputy minister, Kornelia Shilunga is the best successor for Kashuupulwa.
ILENI NANDJATO
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