Staff Writer
Former member of parliament Paulus Kapia’s driver appeared in the Outapi Magistrate’s Court last week in connection with fuel smuggling from Angola.
Kapia confirmed the arrest yesterday, saying that the driver identified as Demetrios Ndakomani, was out on bail. Ndakomani is aged around 35 years. The former deputy minister said Ndakomani works at his Impalila garden and that the vehicle – a Toyota 2,7l with registration number N111- 587W – is used at the project. He said the vehicle was impounded on 13 August 2021 while carrying 28 times 20 litres and one 25 litres of fuel. The vehicle was, however, released on 16 August 2021 after Kapia had intervened.
“I got the car back,” Kapia said, adding that he was shocked when he was told about the incident. Kapia said he had to rush to the border with the vehicle’s documents to prove that it was his. “It was unlawful. The person was arrested last week on Thursday. He appeared in court on Monday. He paid bail,” he said. Kapia said he has not yet fired Ndakomani because he wants to investigate the matter. “Provisionally you cannot fire the person like that without investigation,” he said.
Omusati police said the rampant smuggling of fuel from Angola to Namibia has become a headache.
In January this year, the Omusati regional deputy commissioner Moses Simaho said the fuel smuggling was going on despite the police setting up intense border patrols. In February this year, Ohangwena police also raised concern over fuel smuggling, with the region’s police chief Commissioner Elizabeth Mukete-Sibolile saying that the smuggling goes on during the night.
Mukete-Sibolile said the smuggling goes on even after the police patrols along the borders. “But we are doing our best to ensure that the law is maintained at all times including the borders,” said Mukete-Sibolile at the time.
She said most of the culprits flee from the police leaving their contraband behind.
The fuel, the commissioner said, is dropped off within Namibian borders by some Angolan for Namibians to collect it. In June 2021, mines minister Tom Alweendo said
it is a serious crime for Namibia to continue smuggling fuel in the country from neighbouring Angola.
