By: Hertha Ekandjo
Namibia Economic Freedom Fighters (NEFF) has now threatened to involve African Union(AU), the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Union and international organisations should President Hage Geingob not “come clean” about his alleged involvement in the Phala Phala incident.
Various media reports have over the past weeks claimed that Geingob is entangled in the alleged burglary and theft of U$4 million at South African President Cyril Ramaphosa’s Phala Phala farm in Limpopo in 2020.
This past weekend South African head of presidential protection service, Wally Rhoode, said that Geingob sent a helicopter to pick them up from the border and housed them at State House in Windhoek when they came to investigate Cyril Ramaphosa’s stolen millions.
In a letter on Tuesday, NEFF deputy leader Kalimbo Iipumbu requested Geingob to admit to his “involvement” in Ramaphosa’s stolen U$4 million.
It is alleged that Geingob accommodated them for a night at State House in February 2020 while investigations were still ongoing.
The Phala Phala robbery, now known as ‘farmgate’, came into the limelight after former South African intelligence chief Arthur Fraser opened a criminal case against Ramaphosa and Rhoode in June 2022.
“It is high time now that the president comes clean and issue out a clean statement to say ‘I have done something or I have an agreement, or whatever exercise that he had with the president of South Africa,” said Iipumbu.
He said NEFF could not have a country with a citizen with more power than the country’s constitution, adding that Geingob is someone who cannot be questioned and not held liable for his actions.
“It is our plea to the head of government, Geingob, to admit his helping hand and apologise to the Namibian people and leave the presidency chair. With all denial of him not being involved, now things are coming out clean,” he said.
The deputy leader explained it felt like Geingob was above the law, stating that there seemed to be no way Geingob could be questioned.
Iipumbu told The Villager that Geingob has plenty of room to admit to his wrongdoing and that Geingob has to apologise for violating the country’s constitution.
He added that Geingob must also admit to the Namibian people that what he did was not in line with the country’s sovereignty.
The letter further noted that Namibia was a country with a clear constitution, and its laws should not apply to the oppressed only.
“No one is above the law, and if nations allow this to happen in Namibia, then believe that we are sold out as a country. Those involved in Ramaphosa’s money should be dealt with accordingly,” Iipumbu stressed.
“It is also time we revert to our constitution of the country and repeal Article 31, 32 that speaks about president immunity. We continue saying no one is above the law, but we have Geingob in Namibia who is above the law,” he emphasised.
When The Villager reached out to the Presidency’s press secretary Alfredo Hengari regarding NEFF’s comments, Hengari said they had already released a statement “that answers that”.
The Sunday Independent, a local newspaper in South Africa, had said Rhoode said Ramaphosa instructed them to drive to Namibia, where they met some senior police officers at “no man’s land”.
According to the paper, Rhoode said Ramaphosa’s advisor, Bejani Chauke, accompanied him to Namibia. Rhoode is reported to have said that Geingob sent a helicopter to pick them up from the border and brought them to State House in Windhoek to spend a night.
