The final salute

The final saluteThe rise and fall of Peter Vilho A look at the former defence minister’s uproarious and turbulent Tuesday and the preceding 12 months that characterised the beginning of his end. MATHIAS HAUFIKU and JEMIMA BEUKES







WINDHOEK

Admiral Peter Vilho, who was relieved of his duties on Tuesday as defence minister, declared that “corruption is everywhere” while speaking to journalists at State House exactly a year ago upon his appointment to the portfolio.

He was responding to questions about what he intended to do to halt rampant corruption that allegedly had the defence ministry by the scrotum.

An articulate Vilho responded: “Corruption is everywhere, but that does not justify it being entertained in the defence force, therefore, we will do everything to ensure that corruption is fought and eradicated”.

Ironically, on Tuesday - 383 days after his remarks - he fell on his sword after allegations of corruption engulfed his name.

Vilho has denied the allegations and dared his chief detractor, Windhoek mayor Job Amupanda, to file his evidence at the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC).

ACC this week confirmed that it is not investigating Vilho or the alleged N$200 million transferred from the ministry of defence to its subsidiary August 26 Holdings.

In his resignation letter to President Hage Geingob, Vilho asked that the transfer be investigated to clear his name.

Police investigation starts

Namibian Sun yesterday reported that the commercial crimes investigating unit of the Namibian Police has started investigating this transfer after charges of money laundering, amongst others, were opened by the defence ministry.

Twelve months after joining Parliament as one of Geingob’s personal nominees to the National Assembly, Vilho, a career soldier, succumbed to public and political pressure to leave.

He blamed a “media blitz” for his abrupt departure, although this only happened after being summoned to State House by Geingob for a meeting that took hours.

Vilho quit because he felt his continued membership in the executive was “untenable” and the “ongoing media blitz” focused on him detracted from the “very important work of government, especially in the area of defence and security”, he said.

He became the shortest-serving senior minister in post-independence Namibia.

No show at Cabinet

Since his appointment, Vilho’s Tuesday mornings were reserved for Cabinet, where he and other members of the executive meet for hours to devise national policies for implementation to develop the country. This Tuesday was different.

Cabinet insiders told Namibian Sun that Vilho seldom misses Cabinet sittings – and when he did not pitch this week, it was clear to everyone that the writing was on the wall.

Sitting in his chair for the day was his deputy Hilma Nicanor, who some gave an outside chance of becoming the country’s next and first ever female defence minister.

Two ministers who spoke to Namibian Sun narrated how Geingob, in front of the entire Cabinet, questioned her about the whereabouts of Vilho.

The president even informed members of the executive that he was going to meet Vilho when Cabinet proceedings were done for the day.

During that meeting, which was also attended by vice president Nangolo Mbumba, Vilho allegedly felt betrayed by the system and blamed the military intelligence as well as the Namibia Central Intelligence Agency (NCIS) of doing little to protect him.

Dreams dashed

Those close to him said his dream was always to build a professional force which provides the necessary education, equipment and facilities for its members.

Vilho, according to military insiders, also took issue with the fact that the military is used for internal security operations without being properly prepared to deal with civilians.

In fact, upon his appointment last year, he said soldiers must be better prepared before being deployed on these operations, considering that they are not trained to interact with the average man on the street.

Not many ministers summoned by Geingob to State House over allegations of corruption survived the chop and the same fate seems to have befallen the former navy boss.

Before any announcements were made, news started filtering out of State House’s walls that Vilho was sacked.

By the time Alfredo Hengari, the presidential press secretary, announced the news of Vilho’s ‘resignation’ at sunset, the leadership vacuum at the defence ministry was already a hot topic nationwide.