City Police promotion claims spark concern
Allegations of tribal favouritism, nepotism, and unfair promotion practices within the Windhoek City Police have surfaced in an anonymous letter submitted to City of Windhoek chief executive officer Moses Matyayi and the management committee.
The letter, dated April 2026, claims that recent promotions within the City Police predominantly benefited members linked to the Aakwambi group, raising concerns about fairness, transparency, and compliance with recruitment regulations.
In response to the allegations, Matyayi formally requested City Police chief Leevi Ileka to provide clarification on the claims and to either confirm or refute the allegations contained in the letter. “My office has received an anonymous letter on 01 April 2026 concerning the above-mentioned subject matter,” Matyayi wrote.
“The concerns raised therein include, inter alia, allegations that promotions within the City Police Service are conducted on a tribal basis.” Matyayi instructed that the response should address each allegation individually and be “factual, precise, and substantiated”, while avoiding “generic, inflammatory, or unverified statements”.
The anonymous complainants, who describe themselves as long-serving members who helped establish the City Police between 2005 and 2006, claimed morale within the department had deteriorated. “Many of us have worked for more than 20 years, understand the City Police well, and care deeply about it. However, the current situation is becoming difficult and is getting out of control,” the letter reads.
The complainants alleged that recent promotions were not conducted in accordance with Regulation 10, which reportedly requires positions to be advertised and contested by at least five candidates.
The letter lists several divisions where recently promoted officers were allegedly linked to the Aakwambi group, including Special Operations, Human Resources, Traffic, Legal Services, Crime Prevention, and the Drone Office. “It is seen that most of the promotions are going to Aawambo, especially Aakwambi. This is not fair,” the complainants alleged.
The letter further questioned whether officers from other communities, including Damara, Herero, Ovahimba, Zambezi, Baster, and Setswana groups, were receiving fair consideration for advancement opportunities.
“We are not saying anyone can just be promoted, but there are hardworking members with great talent, and their talent is not seen,” the complainants stated.
Concerns were also raised about alleged favouritism in refresher training opportunities, with the anonymous members claiming that the same individuals were repeatedly selected for courses and workshops. “Training is meant to build skills and improve performance for all members. However, this is not happening, as many members on the ground and in other sections are left out,” the letter said.
The complainants further alleged that some members had not attended refresher training since 2005 or 2006. The anonymous submission also questioned a proposed graduate policy reportedly being considered within the City Police.
Members expressed fears that graduates or civilians could eventually replace trained officers in specialised units. “There is also a worry about civilians taking over certain functions, as this may expose the department and sensitive information to criminals,” the letter reads.
The complainants additionally raised concerns about Acting Superintendent Hendrina Ndahangoundja allegedly commanding trained officers despite claims that she lacks formal police training.
