Stefanus Nashama
Reports claiming that the Inspector General of the Namibian Police, Lieutenant General Joseph Shikongo, received a new Mercedes Benz worth over N$2.5 million have been vigorously denied and the rumours were labelled as malicious, false, and misleading.
Deputy Commissioner Kauna Shikwambi, the head of the Namibian Police’s Public Relations Division, clarified that the actual price of the vehicle was slightly over N$1.9 million.
“We would like to clarify that the vehicle in question was purchased through an approved procurement process for N$1,968,643.50,” Shikwambi stated.
She stressed that the vehicle remains government property, designated for the official use of the Inspector General and not for his personal use.
“Similar to other offices and departments, the Office of the Inspector General faced the necessity of replacing its ageing vehicle fleet, hence the new addition,” she explained.
Nampol acquired 27 new motor vehicles earlier this year for N$11 million from its allocated budget. Shikwambi confirmed this amount yesterday.
“Towards the end of the 2022/2023 financial year, 27 vehicles were purchased for N$11,000,000. These vehicles include those used for border patrols, public law maintenance, traffic law enforcement, investigations, crime prevention, and one Mercedes Benz GLE 400 D-4 Matic Diesel for the official use of the Inspector General,” she clarified.
Despite the confirmed purchase amount, reports suggested that among the 27 new vehicles procured by the police was a Mercedes Benz costing N$2.5 million for Inspector-General Shikongo.
However, Shikwambi argued that the report was based on assumptions regarding the vehicle’s price from the M+Z website. The report failed to establish the actual purchase price of the vehicle in question.
“It is evident that these assumptions regarding the vehicle’s price are derived from a mere catalogue on a dealership’s website and failed to accurately determine the actual purchase price,” she reiterated.
It was reported that this was the first time the office of the Inspector-General had access to a Mercedes Benz in ten years.
Shikwambi further disclosed that the police budget allows for the purchase of vehicles in the current 2023/24 financial year, with 113 vehicles already acquired for N$92,000,000 and the police have begun distributing them to various areas across the country.
“The public should be aware that the reports did not accurately reflect the price of the vehicle in question,” she cautioned.
