Rédaction Africa Links 24 with Tracy Tafirenyika
Published on 2024-03-16 06:00:00
Family members of the five alleged robbers who were killed by the police at Okahandja last year are still reeling from the impact of their loss. The deaths have left indelible scars on their loved ones, who are now calling for justice to be served. In a recent interview with The Namibian, the sister of one of the deceased robbers, who chose to remain anonymous, expressed the deep pain and mourning that she and her family are going through.
The upcoming national protest, scheduled for tomorrow morning in Windhoek, aims to hold all involved police officers accountable for their actions. Activists Immanuel Sheefeni and Michael Amushelelo will lead the protest, seeking justice for the victims and demanding changes within Namibian law enforcement to prevent similar incidents in the future.
The police had announced last year that they had killed five individuals at Okahandja during a police chase, alleging them to be involved in robbery. The deceased were identified as Erikki ‘Akawa’ Martin, Abed Andreas, Marius Ipinge, Malaika Kotokeni, and Flavianus Endjala. However, their family members have accused the police of intentionally killing the men under the guise of crime prevention.
Sheefeni stressed the importance of justice, accountability, and reform within the Namibian law enforcement system to address police brutality effectively. He questioned how the nation could tolerate law enforcers who may be acting as unjust murderers and emphasized that the responsible officers must be held accountable through legal procedures.
On the other hand, Amushelelo accused the police of concealing civilian killings and transforming the force into a mafia-like organization, where officers function as hired assassins. He raised concerns about the suspicious circumstances surrounding the Okahandja 5 shooting and criticized the police for providing contradictory statements about the incident, thereby undermining transparency and accountability.
While the Namibian Police approved the protest, they have missed the deadline for submitting the docket related to their findings on the Okahandja 5 shooting to the prosecutor general. This delay has further fueled concerns among the protestors and the victims’ families about the integrity and thoroughness of the police investigation into the incident.
In conclusion, the call for justice and accountability in cases of police brutality and civilian killings remains crucial to uphold the rule of law and protect the rights of all individuals. The national protest scheduled for tomorrow serves as a platform for citizens to demand transparency, reforms, and effective oversight mechanisms within the Namibian law enforcement system. Only through such collective efforts can meaningful change be achieved to prevent similar tragedies in the future.
Read the original article on The Namibian
