The Affirmative Repositioning (AR) movement has called on deputy chief justice and judge president Petrus Damaseb to reject his nomination to serve on Tanzania’s commission of inquiry.
The party argues that Damaseb’s participation would undermine the credibility and independence of Namibia’s judiciary.
This follows the announcement on Wednesday by the Office of the Judiciary chief justice, Peter Shivute, who nominated Damaseb to serve on the Tanzanian presidential commission of inquiry to investigate the root causes of violence that followed the general elections held in October 2025.
In a statement issued on Thursday, AR leader Job Amupanda, accuses the Namibian government and the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) of facilitating what it described as a politically driven process following a request by the Tanzanian government for a Namibian judge to join the commission.
The movement alleges the nomination followed political discussions rather than a judicial process.
AR claims the commission is intended to legitimise the Tanzanian government’s handling of allegations linked to the country’s 2025 elections, arguing that a serving Namibian judge should not be associated with a process it considers politically compromised.
“Assigning a sitting deputy chief justice to a foreign inquiry risks damaging Namibia’s judicial reputation and could create the perception that the country’s courts are being drawn into political matters beyond its borders,” says Amupanda.
AR has demanded that the JSC publicly explain the legal and ethical basis for Damaseb’s nomination and urged him to formally decline the appointment, saying this would protect both his legacy and the integrity of the judiciary.
The movement also warns it is considering legal action, including review proceedings and an interdict, should the nomination proceed.
