Shifeta deploys Kashihakumwa to Etosha to foil poaching ‘inside job’

Environment and tourism minister Pohamba Shifeta has confirmed suspicions that some of the ministry’s rangers are part of syndicates causing poaching havoc in the Etosha National Park.Yesterday he confirmed that retired Commissioner Ndahangwapo Kashihakumwa, the head of the wildlife protection unit, has been redeployed from Windhoek to Etosha with immediate effect. "There was too much complacency from our staff in Etosha and there were inside jobs," he told Namibian Sun late yesterday.Shifeta’s swift action follows the recent discovery of 11 black rhino carcasses in the national park over the past two weeks.He announced the redeployment during a wildlife crime update yesterday.He said since the tragic discovery, the ministry has made security adjustments in Etosha to close any loopholes and ensure that such incidences do not occur again.According to him, last week - between 14 to 16 June - a joint anti-poaching unit managed to track down and apprehend two suspects out of a group of five who attempted to hunt rhinos in Etosha. The suspects - spotted in the park by the unit while tracking a rhino - fled when approached, and two suspects were subsequently arrested. Investigations are at an advanced stage to apprehend the remaining three suspects, whose identities are known to the authorities, he said.AmbushShifeta said in another incident on 15 June, a suspected poacher was injured and arrested by ministry officials in the Bwabwata National Park. Park staff on regular patrol planned an ambush after they discovered a fresh giraffe carcass in a wire snare and hanging biltong.After some time, two male suspects approached the area before fleeing the scene upon realising that they were being ambushed. An official fired warning shots for the suspects to stop, but to no avail. In the process, one of the suspects was shot in the leg and apprehended, while the other managed to flee to Botswana. The injured suspect was identified as a 40-year-old male Botswana national and is now receiving medical attention at Rundu hospital. He will be charged for contravening the Nature Conservation Ordinance, illegally hunting a special protected game species, illegal entry into the park and illegal entry into Namibia.Investigations to establish the identity – and apprehend – the second suspect continue.No stone unturned“I warn those attempting to involve themselves in wildlife crimes, and in particular poaching, that we will leave no stone unturned to apprehend them and to bring them to justice,” the minister said. Shifeta added that they will not relent in ensuring maximum protection of our iconic species in the flagship Etosha, and elsewhere in the country.“I bring these cases to your attention to alert you that our staff and joint anti-poaching units are constantly engaged in activities to deter and prevent wildlife crimes and to apprehend suspects in cases where poaching has unfortunately already occurred.”With the biggest population of black rhinos in the world, the world looks up to Namibia to prevent this already critically endangered species from going extinct, he said.“This is also a call to patriotic Namibians to stand with the authorities in not only condemning these barbaric actions, but also to report any suspected poaching or other crimes committed against our wildlife.”

Shifeta deploys Kashihakumwa to Etosha to foil poaching ‘inside job’

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Namibian Sun 2025-04-17

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Shifeta deploys Kashihakumwa to Etosha to foil poaching ‘inside job’

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Namibian Sun 2025-04-17

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