WINDHOEK, (The Southern African Times) – Namibian Defence Minister Peter Vilho has resigned over allegations of taking kickbacks, Namibian officials said Tuesday.
In his letter of resignation following a meeting with President Hage Geingob, Vilho said he was unable to continue with his duties.
Vilho said that his “continued membership of the executive was untenable” and the “ongoing media blitz” focusing on him detracted attention from the “very important work of government, especially in the area of defence and security,” State House spokesperson Alfredo Hengari said in a statement.
Vilho met with Geingob on Tuesday to explain allegations of illicit proceeds in an undeclared foreign bank account in his name.
The case involves foreign bank accounts that were investigated due to alleged kickbacks linked to a 1.8-billion-Namibian-dollar (124 million U.S. dollars) arms tender for the Namibian government around 13 years ago.
