Shifeta says gay allegations are harming his family
OSHAKATI
Tourism minister Pohamba Shifeta yesterday said those accusing him of being gay have caused significant damage to his family setup, while his children are catching flack as well.
In voice notes widely circulated, Shifeta said he will decisively deal with people accusing him of being gay.
During a telephonic interview, the minister told Namibian Sun that the rumours are getting “too much” and that he and his family are being affected by it.
Questioned on whether he was inciting violence against the gay community when he said he will carry his knobkerrie and hit whoever makes such allegations against him, he said he will no longer be silent on the accusations, adding that they are damaging and driven by people with a hidden agenda.
“I am not inciting violence. I have looked at it and so many times people have tried to defame my character. It is getting too much. We also have families.
“This is a self-defense case. People are lenient when their names are not dragged in the mud."
Driving an agenda
Shifeta said Namibians should not allow those who identify as gay to fabricate information about others just to drive their agenda.
“They should stop. People think politicians are cowards and we are not that. Sodomy is a crime. And further crime on this is [to] my dignity,” he stressed.
According to Shifeta, his 83-year-old aunt fell ill for about a week after hearing about the rumours.
The minister further narrated that during the election campaign last year, he was accused of using a one-month-old baby’s heart and liver to consult traditional healers so he could be the Swapo Party presidential candidate.
Investigations were done and those who brought it to social media deleted it, he said.
“I have nothing to do with gay people and I cannot have gay people accusing me of such nonsense. Gayness in Namibia is a crime and they are supposed to be arrested. I will walk around with my knobkerrie. It’s not a threat, but I am angry. This person has people behind him. If the police are not doing anything, I will do something,” he said.
Sex with pastor
In May, 24-year-old Jeremiah Mushinima opened a case against Evangelical Lutheran Church in Namibia (Elcin) pastor and former Swapo Party councillor Reverend Hendrick Shuudeni, who allegedly had sex with him in exchange for a job in the Namibian Police.
Mushinima had allegedly accused Shifeta of having sexual relations with Shuudeni.
Shifeta told Namibian Sun yesterday that he opened a case against Mushinima for defamation of character, adding that he will make an example of him to stop the rumours.
“I don’t know him and he cannot go around accusing me,” he said.
Mushinima yesterday said he has not made any accusations against the minister, adding that everything he said was relayed to him by Shuudeni.
“The pastor told me that him and Shifeta were having sexual relations. The audios are there at MTC,” he said.
If the police are to apprehend him, Shuudeni should be arrested first, Mushinima added.
In voice notes widely circulated, Shifeta said he will decisively deal with people accusing him of being gay.
During a telephonic interview, the minister told Namibian Sun that the rumours are getting “too much” and that he and his family are being affected by it.
Questioned on whether he was inciting violence against the gay community when he said he will carry his knobkerrie and hit whoever makes such allegations against him, he said he will no longer be silent on the accusations, adding that they are damaging and driven by people with a hidden agenda.
“I am not inciting violence. I have looked at it and so many times people have tried to defame my character. It is getting too much. We also have families.
“This is a self-defense case. People are lenient when their names are not dragged in the mud."
Driving an agenda
Shifeta said Namibians should not allow those who identify as gay to fabricate information about others just to drive their agenda.
“They should stop. People think politicians are cowards and we are not that. Sodomy is a crime. And further crime on this is [to] my dignity,” he stressed.
According to Shifeta, his 83-year-old aunt fell ill for about a week after hearing about the rumours.
The minister further narrated that during the election campaign last year, he was accused of using a one-month-old baby’s heart and liver to consult traditional healers so he could be the Swapo Party presidential candidate.
Investigations were done and those who brought it to social media deleted it, he said.
“I have nothing to do with gay people and I cannot have gay people accusing me of such nonsense. Gayness in Namibia is a crime and they are supposed to be arrested. I will walk around with my knobkerrie. It’s not a threat, but I am angry. This person has people behind him. If the police are not doing anything, I will do something,” he said.
Sex with pastor
In May, 24-year-old Jeremiah Mushinima opened a case against Evangelical Lutheran Church in Namibia (Elcin) pastor and former Swapo Party councillor Reverend Hendrick Shuudeni, who allegedly had sex with him in exchange for a job in the Namibian Police.
Mushinima had allegedly accused Shifeta of having sexual relations with Shuudeni.
Shifeta told Namibian Sun yesterday that he opened a case against Mushinima for defamation of character, adding that he will make an example of him to stop the rumours.
“I don’t know him and he cannot go around accusing me,” he said.
Mushinima yesterday said he has not made any accusations against the minister, adding that everything he said was relayed to him by Shuudeni.
“The pastor told me that him and Shifeta were having sexual relations. The audios are there at MTC,” he said.
If the police are to apprehend him, Shuudeni should be arrested first, Mushinima added.
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