Erasmus Shalihaxwe
A South African YouTuber says he spent nearly 14 days in police custody after sneaking into an Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN) media briefing held on 28 November in Windhoek.
Cleo Bonny, a well-known figure often referred to as the “African Reading Ambassador,” travels widely throughout the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region, driven by his passion for reading and promoting literacy.
Bonny posted a video on his YouTube channel on Saturday, titled “I Regret Visiting Namibia During the Elections.”
According to Bonny, he was arrested at the ECN for questioning the relationship between the ruling party, SWAPO, and the ECN.
On his channel, Bonny recounted how he asked ECN Chairperson Elsie Nghikembwa whether the ECN operates independently or if it is influenced by SWAPO.
“Who are you working for? Many people I’ve spoken to are saying you (ECN) are connected to SWAPO,” he asked.
This led to ECN security taking note of his unauthorised presence, resulting in his arrest.
According to witnesses, Bonny entered the ECN without being searched and was not asked to show any accreditation on 28 November.
“He was not accredited to cover the elections and was wearing an African National Congress (ANC) shirt when he entered the building,” said one journalist who also attended the media briefing.
Bonny was seen assisting a female camerawoman with her equipment. He apparently used that opportunity to enter unnoticed. His presence was only acknowledged when he asked ECN Chairperson Nghikembwa questions about the commission’s independence.
In response, Nghikembwa acknowledged the question as “interesting” and assured Bonny that the ECN operates independently for the people of Namibia.
“If you have evidence to suggest we are connected to SWAPO, produce it. We are an independent election management body, and that is my answer to your question,” she stated.
Bonny was allegedly arrested shortly after the press briefing and questioned.
In a WhatsApp voice note released over the weekend, Bonny stated that he was confused by his arrest, as he only wanted to promote a reading culture around African stories.
“I am not feeling well. I’m afraid for my life, and I’m not altogether. I was in custody for close to 14 days after being arrested at the ECN. They questioned me extensively about my intentions, who sent me, and what I planned to do with the answers,” Bonny said in the voice note.
Bonny also explained that he studied international relations and current affairs and keeps himself updated with global events.
His interest in the Namibian elections led him to visit and gather material for his YouTube channel but clarified that he is not a politician.
He added that he also came to Namibia to visit his family, expressed his love for the country, and clarified that he is not a politician.
“I told them I am not working for anyone or affiliated to any media house, nor am I a spy. However, they kept asking why I posed the questions and who I intended to share the answers with. They also wanted to know how I entered the country,” he said.
Namibian Police Force (Nampol) spokesperson, Deputy Commissioner Kauna Shikwambi, confirmed to the Windhoek Observer on Sunday that an arrest took place at the ECN on 29 November after a suspect asked questions about the Namibian election process and compared it to that of Zimbabwe and Mozambique.
Shikwambi, however, clarified that the arrested individual was not Bonny.
“The subject was detained after allegedly engaging the ECN by asking various questions about Namibia’s election process and making comparisons to Zimbabwe and Mozambique. The person was arrested on 29 November at around 22:00 at the ECN,” Shikwambi stated.
According to Shikwambi, investigations revealed the subject was in Namibia on a tourist visa, leading to the involvement of immigration officials.
The individual was detained according to Section 42 of the Immigration Act 7 of 1993, which stipulates that individuals suspected of being in Namibia unlawfully can be detained.
This includes those who enter the country on a tourist visa but engage in activities beyond the scope of their visa.
Such individuals can be held by immigration authorities while investigations or deportation procedures are carried out.
