Ndeitunga plays down theft claims

Former police chief Sebastian Ndeitunga has poured cold water over questions about his newly-built house in Nkurekuru, which was constructed using the same bricks as the new police headquarters in the town.Construction of both buildings took place almost simultaneously.Ndeitunga’s house is situated two kilometres from the new N$85 million Kavango West police headquarters, which was inaugurated in July this year by police minister Albert Kawana.Ndeitunga scoffed at suggestions that materials meant for the police buildings were used to build his private three-bedroom house.He says those making the claims are trying "to milk a stone".Welcome to verifyThe outspoken retired general says he is open to a probe by the relevant authorities because he used his own money to acquire the bricks – and that the similarities and timing of construction were a pure coincidence.He said he paid the Nkurenkuru town council N$40 000 for the plot.Both buildings were built with identical face bricks, which were previously used in the construction of several police buildings across the country.The Kavango West police headquarters was inaugurated in July 2022 by police minister, Albert Kawana.Namibian Sun visited Ndeitunga’s property, where construction is still ongoing, and spoke to some of the workers. They indicated that they started building the house in January 2022. Tropical Investment CC was contracted to build the house.Old controversyNdeitunga, who is not new to land controversies in Kavango West, faced immense public backlash a few years ago for owning land in the Ukwangali area at the expense of locals.Asked how much he paid for the building material, Ndeitunga could not provide a definite answer.Instead, he provided this publication with a delivery note dated 3 August 2020 indicating that 24 pallets of face bricks were delivered to his property. The bricks were bought from Namclay Bricks and Pavers in Uis, Erongo Region.Namclay charges around N$1 700 per pallet, which means Ndeitunga paid an estimated N$42 000 for the bricks.Two high-ranking regional police officials cast doubt on his version – saying the similarities in both the construction materials and timing of the construction could not just be a coincidence.Allegations dismissedNdeitunga said he has been aware of the allegations "because it surfaced while I was still in office and I had to explain it to central government."The former police chief flatly denied the allegations, saying that those spewing such "nonsense" want to taint his good reputation."Almost everything inside of that house is done through a bank transfer. So they should just go to my bank and see the transfer, and then see how many bricks I bought from that company. It is not like someone gave me the bricks; I bought them with my own salary," Ndeitunga said."I like the bricks. You know what I did, the inside of the house are normal bricks, the outside are the face bricks, and those face bricks I got them from a company in Uis. I bank with Standard Bank, and they can go there and clarify if I paid for those bricks," he said.Legal action threatNdeitunga threatened to sue those propagating the allegations, adding: "I am proud to have gone out of public service without having touched a cent from government."Those people should bury their heads in mud with shame. Therefore, we should not try to milk a stone, knowing that a stone has got no milk. Now I am looking for money as I am retired, I want to know who those people are that are making allegations so I sue them."I had my policy that matured. Because all my policies matured with Old Mutual; my handler at Old Mutual can testify to that. Even the plot where I built my house, I bought the land from the town council. I think it was N$40 000, and I transferred the money to the council. I can invite everyone, be it the ombudsman, the Anti-Corruption Commission, and the media, to go to the bank and verify the information."In terms of the plot in Nkurenkuru, the town’s CEO, Petrus Sindimba, said that Ndeitunga applied for the plot for which council passed a resolution and ministerial approval was granted.

Ndeitunga plays down theft claims

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Ndeitunga plays down theft claims

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