One good reason not to vote for opresors like swapo. This is pure slavery. VIP bodyguards allege ‘abuse’ Submitted byNamibianSun101on Wed, 2014-10-08 02:00 Police Inspector-General Sebastian Ndeitunga has called on all State bodyguards and drivers to report any abuse and ill-treatment by the VIPs they are protecting. “Any police officers who are being mistreated by the person they’re protecting, should not fear, but should approach my office,” said Ndeitunga. His comment comes after a group of ministerial drivers and bodyguards complained to Namibian Sun about alleged ill-treatment by their principals who include ministers, top government officials and foreign dignitaries, this week. The guards complained about VIPs who are short-tempered and who scream and yell at them and call them names, while they are sometimes asked to do other chores outside their job description. They say the ill-treatment makes them feel “worthless”. Speaking on condition of anonymity, and in compliance with the police policy of non-disclosure, the VIP bodyguards and drivers said their issues have been taken up with their immediate supervisors, while Ndeitunga said the grievances never reached his office. “Sometimes you drive the principal to the restaurant and you wait in the car until they finish eating, while you don’t eat and you are not allowed to go and get food for yourself,” one of the VIP police officers said. “If you drive away while the principal is eating just to get a quick bite, you get reprimanded for driving the car. But I am hungry because I have been driving and protecting the person the entire day from morning without going out of sight.” He further alleged that when the principal comes out of the restaurant the first question they ask, is whether the bodyguard or driver had anything to eat. “How could I have food to eat if I am not allowed to go get food?” asked one bodyguard. Another bodyguard said as part of their job, they are at times asked to taste food before the VIPs eat, to ensure it is not laced with poison. However, after tasting the food, the principal leaves and forgets about the guard. “We are also human beings. How do we stay hungry the entire day, except for tasting the food and afterward go outside? The worst part of it all is that you have to stay with the person until whatever time of the day they want to go home,” moaned the guard. According to the bodyguards, the only time they get anything to eat is when they get home. The chaperones and chauffeurs further claim that when it comes to important trips, especially overseas trips, the principals prefer foreign protection and drivers to their local bodyguards. “They do not want to take us along and ask what we will do if we go there. But if we are not important, then what are we doing here? You also find the principals sometimes getting a driver who is not trained to do the job to drive him to the regions,” another bodyguard said. “If anything happens to them, we will be the first people who will be questioned and face disciplinary charges, but we are treated like we are nothing and belittled by the honourable members.” When conducted for comment yesterday, Ndeitunga said he was not aware of the complaints. He said their concerns should not have been channelled to the media. “Everybody is getting a salary and the principal is not obliged to buy food for the police officers, but they should be allowed to go and buy their own food,” Ndeitunga explained. “I have a driver and bodyguard, but I tell them they can go and buy their own food if I am eating. The driver can go while the bodyguard waits.” According to the police chief, he recently reprimanded two VIP bodyguards and two drivers after they left two ministers stranded at State House. “When the principals came out, their cars were not there. I told them that the code of conduct demands that they must first get permission from the principal before they leave.” Regarding regional and foreign trips, Ndeitunga maintained that the VIP has the right to decide whether to take along security personnel or not. Commenting on principals who take out their frustrations on bodyguards and drivers and assign them odd jobs, Ndeitunga said: “There needs to be total discipline from the side of the police. This all depends on the person and their style of leadership. Some are soft, while others are hard.” “Any police officer who is being mistreated must not be afraid to report it. They must report it to their supervisors and if nothing is being done they must come to my office. My doors are open for them. They will not get into trouble if they do so.” WINDHOEK ELVIS MURARANGANDA Category: POLICE Share This
Posted on: Thu, 09 Oct 2014 08:48:26 +0000