Namibia’s biggest graft scandal since independence has claimed the job of a government minister and led to the apparent suicide of a key witness, an official and press reports said on Thursday.
Deputy Minister of Works, Transport and Communication Paulus Kapia quit on Wednesday night and his resignation was ”accepted” by President Hifikepunye Pohamba, the presidential spokesperson said in a communiqué.
Kapia was implicated in a multimillion-dollar scandal in which a state loan was apparently spirited into private accounts abroad.
Namibia’s founding president, Sam Nujoma, has also been linked to the scandal but has denied any wrongdoing.
A suspended government official, Avril Green, who was the financial manager at the state-run Social Security Commission, recently alleged that a new investment company, Avid Investment Corporation, was given a N$30-million loan under political pressure.
He said the youth wing of the ruling South West Africa People’s Organisation (Swapo) had an 80% stake in the firm and added that Nujoma also held a share in the firm.
Meanwhile, the state-run Namibian newspaper on Thursday reported that Avid boss Lazarus Kandara committed suicide after being grilled by police and testifying that Kapia held a 10% stake in the firm.
After being fingerprinted and being taken to the police station, he allegedly whipped out a gun and aimed it at three police officers ”who sparred with him and he allegedly turned the gun on himself”, the daily said.
The National Human Rights Society (NSHR) said Kandara was killed by police.
”It is very difficult to turn a pistol against yourself, aiming at your heart, surrounded by police,” NSHR executive director Phil ya Nangoloh said on Friday. ”We suspect he was shot by the police.”
Police spokesperson Hieronymus Goraseb said: ”I can confirm it was suicide, but details will be released later.” — Sapa-AFP