WINDHOEK FRED GOEIEMAN
The governor of the Hardap Region claims she was publicly humiliated by a customs official at the Hosea Kutako International Airport because she had too many pairs of shoes in her luggage.
According to Governor Katrina Hanse-Himarwa, the official alleged that she had bought the shoes in Zambia and was trying to smuggle them into Namibia without declaring them.
Hanse-Himarwa said the incident happened on May 23 when she and her delegation returned from a conference in Lusaka.
The customs official, whom she could only identify as Intamba, allegedly insisted that she must declare the shoes but she maintained that she had bought nothing in Zambia.
I was humiliated in full view of my fellow travellers. I was kept as a hostage for more than an hour in the full view of the public, the governor said.
She claimed her luggage was searched, with her underwear unpacked in full view of the public, but the officials could not find anything illegal.
The officials did not have the decency to apologise when they did not get anything they suspected, Hanse-Himarwa said.
I felt so humiliated and felt naked because the public saw the colour of my pants, especially men. I don't know whether I was specifically targeted. If a leader is subjected to this type of humiliation, what about ordinary citizens?
Hanse-Himarwa said the minister of safety and security, Immanuel Ngatjizeko, regretted the way in which she was treated after it was brought to his attention. Namibian Sun's attempt to get comment from customs and excise officials proved futile at the time of going to print yesterday.
