Also known as: Namibian Police inspector general Joseph Shikongo · Police inspector general Joseph Shikongo · Inspector general Joseph Shikongo · Police chief Joseph Shikongo · Police chief inspector general Joseph Shikongo · Lt Gen Joseph Shikongo · Inspector General Lt Gen Joseph Shikongo · Lieutenant General Joseph Shikongo · Inspector General Shikongo · Inspector General of the Namibian police · NamPol Inspector General Shikongo · Major General Joseph Shikongo · Inspector General of Police Joseph Shikongo · Police Inspector General Lieutenant General Joseph Shikongo · Lt Gen. Joseph Shimweelao Shikongo · Lt Gen. Joseph Shikongo · suspended Namibian police inspector general · Inspector-General of the Namibian Police Joseph Shikongo
Suspended police inspector general involved in 2023 unemployment protest denial and State House security breach in May 2026.
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April 2026
Informanté
Inspector General Joseph ShikongosaidDe Klerk cannot seek court redress on seized assets while allegedly being a fugitive
Source
“Lieutenant General Joseph Shikongo, in which Shikongo said that De Klerk cannot seek redress from the court on seized assets while allegedly being a fugitive from Namibian courts.”
Police inspector general Joseph Shikongosaidmore than 53,000 young Namibians have applied for 2,000 police posts in current recruitment
Source
“Police inspector general Joseph Shikongo says more than 53 000 young Namibians have applied for 2 000 police posts in the current recruitment process.”
Police chief Shikongowarned thatsituation is contributing to youth involvement in crime, violence and drug abuse
Source
“The police chief warned that the situation is contributing to wider social problems, including growing youth involvement in crime, violence and drug abuse.”
Police inspector general Joseph Shikongoconfirmedthe accident on Friday
Source
“Police inspector general Joseph Shikongo confirmed the accident on Friday and said further details would be provided after the initial findings were completed.”
Police inspector general Joseph Shikongosaidthe government has an obligation to protect children from all forms of abuse and exploitation
Source
“Police inspector general Joseph Shikongo said the government has an obligation to protect children from all forms of abuse and exploitation, but fulfilling this mandate requires law-enforcement agencies to continuously adapt to evolving technological and legal landscapes.”
Inspector General Lt Gen Joseph Shikongoremindedthe public that holiday periods see increased traffic and social activities
Source
“Inspector General Lt Gen Joseph Shikongo reminded the public that these periods of celebration often see increased traffic and social activities, calling on all road users to exercise tolerance, drive responsibly, adhere to traffic regulations, avoid speeding and alcohol-impaired driving, and ensure vehicles are roadworthy.”
Lt Gen Shikongowishedall citizens and visitors a crime-free, safe, and peaceful 36th Independence Day celebration
Source
“"On behalf of the entire management, the Rank-and-File and the Civilian Component of the Namibian Police Force, and indeed on my own behalf, we wish all citizens and visitors a crime-free, safe, and peaceful 36th Independence Day celebration," he said.”
NamPol Police Inspector General Joseph Shikongodescribed policing as a calling requiring dedication and sacrificeemphasizing fallen officers stood firm in moments of uncertainty
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“NamPol Police Inspector General Joseph Shikongo described policing as a calling that requires dedication and sacrifice.”
High Courtjudge Nate Ndauendapo found social activist Michael Amushelelo in contempt of court for Facebook remarks about suspended police inspector general Joseph Shikongo, rejecting Amushelelo's free speech defence. Amushelelo was sentenced to one month imprisonment, suspended for one year, conditional on refraining from further disparaging statements and issuing a written apology to Shikongo within seven days.
High Courtjudge Nate Ndauendapo found social activist Michael Amushelelo in contempt of court for Facebook remarks about suspended police inspector general Joseph Shikongo, rejecting Amushelelo's free speech defence. Amushelelo was sentenced to one month imprisonment, suspended for one year, conditional on refraining from further disparaging statements and issuing a written apology to Shikongo within seven days.
The Windhoek High Court has found social activist Michael Amushelelo in contempt of court after he was sued by former Namibian Police Inspector General Joseph Shikongo for violating a court order prohibiting defamatory remarks about Shikongo on social media. Amushelelo faces a one-month suspended imprisonment sentence.
Social activist Michael Amushelelo has been found in contempt of court and sentenced to a suspended one-month prison term for breaching a settlement agreement with suspended police inspector general Joseph Shikongo by making remarks about him on social media. The sentence is suspended for one year on condition that Amushelelo refrains from publishing defamatory material about Shikongo and issues a formal written apology within seven days.
The Security Commission has made a recommendation to President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah on the future of former inspector general Joseph Shikongo, who was suspended in May following a security breach at State House. The details of the recommendation remain unclear, with the commission declining to comment pending the president's decision.
Joshua Kaumbi, a Windhoek-based lawyer and politician, faces three criminal charges—assault by threat, common assault, and assault with intent to do bodily harm—after allegedly assaulting and threatening to kill a child maintenance officer handling his case in July. He has not been arrested pending evidential documents from the doctor, and has denied the allegations while opening a counter-case.
Effective 1 May 2026, China eliminated customs duties on African exports for 53 countries with diplomatic relations with China. For non-least developed states including Namibia, the zero-tariff benefits apply for two years (May 2026 to April 2028) as a trial window for negotiating long-term trade partnerships.
Health and Social Services Minister Esperance Luvindao rejected claims that ambulance shortages caused deaths in an August 2025 Mariental road crash, saying reports of unavailable emergency vehicles are inaccurate. An Independent Patriots for Change MP had raised concerns about ambulance availability, staffing, and the operational status of the oxygen plant at Mariental State Hospital, alleging transport challenges contributed to the deaths of a pregnant woman and her sister.
Acting High Court judge Natasha Bassingthwaighte found that suspended police inspector general Joseph Shikongo unlawfully eroded the right to demonstrate by ordering that an unemployment protest could not take place on Independence Day 2023, awarding N$300,000 to activist Michael Amushelelo and N$80,000 to activist Dimbulukeni Nauyoma. The judge ruled that the Public Gatherings Proclamation of 1989 requires only notice, not permission, and the inspector general cannot use it to refuse or prevent public gatherings.
The High Court ordered suspended Inspector-General Joseph Shikongo and the ministry of home affairs to compensate activists Michael Amushelelo and Dimbulukeni Nauyoma for arrests and detention following an anti-unemployment protest in March 2023, awarding Amushelelo N$300,000 and Nauyoma N$80,000, plus legal costs.
Prime Minister Elijah Ngurare said President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah should be allowed to serve her full two constitutional terms without distraction from succession debates, which he called premature and deliberately designed to undermine the administration.
PIS Security Services has filed a review application at the High Court challenging a N$40 million three-year security contract awarded to Novo Security Services CC in October 2025, alleging that eight active Namibian police officers were falsely presented as employees and managers of Novo in its bid.
President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah has not slept in her private residential wing at State House since a naked mental health patient broke into the premises nearly three weeks ago; she is staying at her private home in Hochland Park. The incident led to the suspension of police inspector general Joseph Shikongo and raised questions about security, as CCTV cameras were allegedly switched off at the time.
A satirical opinion column criticizes Namibia's VIP protection officers for alleged failures in security at State House, including an incident on 21 April where a mentally ill man allegedly bypassed checkpoints and entered the presidential compound unclothed.
The Independent Patriots for Change says it will not take a position on whether inspector general of Police Joseph Shikongo should remain in office, but insists that due process must be followed and calls on the Executive to release all documents demonstrating compliance with constitutional and statutory requirements for suspension.
A Windhoek resident submitted a 161-page dossier to the Security Commission in April 2025 requesting President Nandi-Ndaitwah remove inspector general Joseph Shikongo from office, alleging corruption, criminal interference, intimidation and abuse of state institutions. Nandi-Ndaitwah appointed major general Anne-Marie Nainda as acting inspector general, though the president did not publicly state reasons for the suspension.
The 12-month suspension of Namibia's inspector general of police, lieutenant general Joseph Shikongo, has created a vacuum of official information, allowing rumors to proliferate about alleged breaches at State House and other unverified claims. The Windhoek Observer editorial argues that the lack of clear, timely communication from top officials has bred public confusion and mistrust.
The family of Giano Seibeb, accused of trespassing at State House in Windhoek, is demanding to see closed-circuit television footage of the incident and wants answers on how he escaped Windhoek Central Hospital's mental health centre where he had been admitted. The incident led President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah to suspend police inspector general Joseph Shikongo.
PDM leader McHenry Venaani said President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah has the constitutional authority to dismiss senior officials without necessarily giving public explanations, in response to the suspension of police inspector general Joseph Shikongo. Venaani argued that leaders make key decisions based on sensitive information unavailable to the public.
The Namibian Police is not disclosing whether suspended inspector general Joseph Shikongo retains his salary and benefits during suspension; Nampol referred media inquiries to the Presidency's statement, which does not address the conditions of Shikongo's suspension.
Major General Anne-Marie Nainda has been appointed Acting Inspector General of the Namibian Police Force for one year, effective immediately, replacing Joseph Shikongo. She brings decades of experience in national and international policing, including roles as Deputy Inspector-General, INTERPOL Executive Committee member representing Africa, and previous assignments in regional command and INTERPOL specialized positions.
Former inspector general Sebastian Ndeitunga says the failure to detect a man who entered the presidential residence last week exposed weaknesses across the police chain of command. The breach has fuelled speculation about the status of police inspector general Joseph Shikongo and raised questions about the VIP Protection Unit's head Michael Abraham.
Defence Minister Frans Kapofi denied reports that the Namibian Defence Force has assumed responsibility for protecting President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, saying the military could step in only if required. The denial comes after an alleged security breach at State House on Thursday, when an unidentified man allegedly entered the presidential residence and reached the private living area before being apprehended, though details of how he gained access and whether he was arrested remain unclear.
A naked man allegedly breached State House security and reached the president's private floor on Thursday afternoon, with sources blaming police and presidential security for the failure. The incident has raised questions about police inspector general Joseph Shikongo's job security, though the Presidency denied dismissing him on Saturday.
Inspector General Joseph Shikongo said the recent transfer of senior officers, including Commissioner Julia Sakua to Zambezi region and Commissioner Andreas Pingana Shilelo to Oshana, is a planned strategic move to strengthen the force and improve service delivery, not a reaction to isolated incidents.
Maren de Klerk, a lawyer implicated in the "Fishrot" corruption scandal, disputes Police Inspector General Joseph Shikongo's claim that he cannot seek redress from the courts on seized assets while alleged to be a fugitive. De Klerk argues the Constitution guarantees every person the right to approach courts, and asserts his pension benefits of about N$1.3 million were accrued from legitimate legal work.