Ex-ambassador to Senegal cleared of sexual assault claims
• Investigation finds ‘no major offence’
An investigation by the ministry of international relations has cleared former Namibian ambassador to Senegal, Elvis Shiweda, following allegations that he sexually assaulted an embassy staff member in August 2023 in the West African country.
Namibian Sun reported about the matter in April, including how the woman who claims to have been attacked by Shiweda struggled to have the matter acted upon by senior officials in the ministry.
At the time, international relations minister Peya Mushelenga said he had not been briefed on the matter since joining the ministry in February.
"I don't have enough information regarding this incident, so I am not the right person to comment on this at the moment," he said.
The woman, who cannot be named due to the nature of the allegation, claimed to have been sent from pillar to post since reporting the matter to her ministerial bosses.
Sources said the international relations minister at the time, Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, was informed and a ministerial team was sent to Senegal to investigate the allegations. Shiweda vehemently denied the allegations at the time, and referred Namibian Sun to the ministry for comment.
However, on 5 August this year, the ministry informed Shiweda that it has concluded its investigation into the allegations against him and that it found ‘no major offence’ against him.
"Following the preliminary investigation into the alleged assault case submitted to my office by the preliminary investigation team, and based on the outcome hereof, I wish to inform you that there is no proof that you have committed any serious or major offence, nor have you contravened any statutory provisions that warrant you to be charged with misconduct as defined in Section 25 (1) of the Public Service Act, based on the evidence provided," the letter by the ministry’s executive director Penda Naanda read.
Namibian Sun reported about the matter in April, including how the woman who claims to have been attacked by Shiweda struggled to have the matter acted upon by senior officials in the ministry.
At the time, international relations minister Peya Mushelenga said he had not been briefed on the matter since joining the ministry in February.
"I don't have enough information regarding this incident, so I am not the right person to comment on this at the moment," he said.
The woman, who cannot be named due to the nature of the allegation, claimed to have been sent from pillar to post since reporting the matter to her ministerial bosses.
Sources said the international relations minister at the time, Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, was informed and a ministerial team was sent to Senegal to investigate the allegations. Shiweda vehemently denied the allegations at the time, and referred Namibian Sun to the ministry for comment.
However, on 5 August this year, the ministry informed Shiweda that it has concluded its investigation into the allegations against him and that it found ‘no major offence’ against him.
"Following the preliminary investigation into the alleged assault case submitted to my office by the preliminary investigation team, and based on the outcome hereof, I wish to inform you that there is no proof that you have committed any serious or major offence, nor have you contravened any statutory provisions that warrant you to be charged with misconduct as defined in Section 25 (1) of the Public Service Act, based on the evidence provided," the letter by the ministry’s executive director Penda Naanda read.
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