A mysterious security breach at State House on Friday is at the centre of a tense impasse between President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah and the Inspector General of the Namibian Police, Joseph Shikongo.
The Issue has learned that a heated reprimand, concluded without a formal resolution, has left Shikongo fearing for his job, while the police force remains in a state of fear and confusion. As things stand, it appears that Shikongo will only learn his fate on Tuesday.
It is understood that the President threatened to dismiss Shikongo as the officer ultimately responsible for her security; however, she has yet to initiate any formal administrative process to that effect. For now, Shikongo appears to remain in office, contrary to social media reports suggesting he has already been sacked.
The government is reportedly treating the matter with extreme seriousness, with several emergency security cluster meetings taking place today. Should President Nandi-Ndaitwah decide to take action, both Shikongo and the Police Commissioner responsible for VIP protection could face dismissal.
The Breach
The Issue understands that the security breach occurred on the State House premises on Friday when a man, described by sources as seemingly mentally unstable, was discovered inside the presidential residence. Fortunately, no members of the First Family were at home when the incident occurred.
President Nandi-Ndaitwah was allegedly visibly shaken by the lapse, especially after it emerged that this was the second time the same individual had been found on the State House grounds. According to those familiar with the situation, the revelation of a repeat breach led the President to demand swift accountability. She subsequently held a meeting with Shikongo, where she reportedly warned him to act before she was forced to remove him from his post.
Further compounding the mystery, the suspect is believed to have been apprehended at the Windhoek home of a senior police officer last month during an apparent attempted burglary. Authorities are now questioning whether these incidents are mere coincidences or something more sinister.
Details surrounding the breach remain sketchy, with both the police and State House officials remaining tight-lipped. It is not yet clear how the suspect gained entry to the State House grounds or managed to penetrate the official residence itself.
Inspector General Shikongo could not be reached for comment at the time of publication. Presidential Press Secretary Jonas Mbambo stated that his office had not been briefed on the alleged security breach or matters regarding Shikongo’s job security.
This is a developing story.
