Ndeitunga probes Nakanyala ‘age tampering’

By Confidente Reporter
NAMPOL Inspector Gen­eral, Sebastian Ndeitun­ga, has confirmed that he has instituted a commission of enquiry into the police’s Head of Internal Investigations, Chris­toph Nakanyala, who has offi­cially changed his age from 59 to 53, in an apparent bid to avoid retirement.
Ndeitunga confirmed last week that the enquiry has been set up at Nakanyala’s behest.
Nakanyala had his date of birth changed at home affairs re­cently, as he allegedly hopes to be appointed Ndeitunga’s successor.
The ministry approved Nakan­yala’s request after initially reject­ing previous applications, which date back to 2012.
“Yes, we are investigating, be­cause Nakanyala himself wrote a letter requesting that I investi­gate,” Ndeitunga said, when ap­proached for comment.
An evasive Nakanyala declined to entertain questions by Confi­dente this week.
“Who gave you that informa­tion? Those sources must con­firm (the enquiry),” he said.
According to a previous media report, Nakanyala was due to re­tire in March next year, before he officially changed his birth year from 1958 to 1964 at the home affairs ministry.
He celebrated his 59th birth­day on 4 March, according to his old identity document.
It is alleged that he is desper­ately trying to avoid retirement, because of his ambition to be­come the country’s next inspec­tor general.
He joined the police force in 1990, shortly after independence.
It was also reported that Na­kanyala had told the home af­fairs ministry committee, which had dealt with is application, that he had lied about his age, in order to enlist as a People’s Lib­eration Army of Namibia (Plan) combatant, after he went into exile as an 11-year-old boy. He pretended to be 18 years old at the time.
Nakanyala also admitted in the media report that he sought the help of the home affairs perma­nent secretary, Patrick Nandago, in order to intervene in the mat­ter.
“A lot of people [veterans] used to lie about their ages in order to qualify for the Plan training. My older brother [Andreas Nakany­ala], who was born in 1960, can confirm my story,” he was quoted as saying.
Asked why he only changed his age 22 years after independ­ence, Nakanyala reportedly said he thought it best to remain with his “exile age”, until recently.
Nakanyala’s move is said to have infuriated junior police officers, who have accused him of clinging to his post, when he should be making way for younger officers to take over.