Namibian opposition MPs against Mugabe purchase of mansion in Windhoek

By Tererai Karimakwenda
19 October 2005

Robert Mugabe is allegedly planning to acquire a N$15 million luxury double storey mansion in Windhoek, Namibia, and is rumoured to already possess several other properties in the country. Our correspondent Warren Moroka reports that the issue caused a serious uproar in parliament on Tuesday as the Namibian opposition MPs called on the government to stop the sale.

Moroka said there are also serious allegations that the Namibian government would subsidise Mugabe’s purchase of the mansion. The MPs demanded that the country's ministry of finance, which is believed to be privy to details relating to the sale, stop abusing taxpayers money by helping a leader who is guilty of causing the suffering of his own people.

In a country where the running joke is that Mugabe already controls things through 'remote control', rumours of this nature are taken seriously. According to Moroka, the MPs expressed fears that Mugabe’s presence in Windhoek would increase what they view as his growing influence at State House and in the Cabinet through Sam Nujoma, a long time friend and ex-president of Namibia.

Phil Ya Nangoloh, director of Namibia’s National Society for Human Rights said Mugabe’s strong friendship with Nujoma contributes to the rumours that the government is helping him. He said rumours that Mugabe already owns hotels, farms and mansions in Namibia should be investigated.

Referring to Mugabe’s tirade at the 60th Anniversary celebration of The Food and Agriculture Organisation in Rome, Ya Nangoloh said the world needs to stop giving Mugabe a platform to defend his horrendous human rights record. He said Mugabe also uses these international occasions to launch personal attacks against his enemies. And finally, Ya Nangoloh said instead of allowing him this space, the world should be prosecuting Mugabe and members of his cabinet for war crime, crimes against humanity and ethnic cleansing.