A PROTEST march to the Namibian Defence Force headquarters that was scheduled for last Friday failed to materialise, as many people allegedly shied away from facing the army.
Mandela Washington Fellow Kaveto Tjatjara, who was one of the organisers of the march, said people who had indicated that they would take part in the march pulled out at the last minute.
Besides Tjatjara, only two women showed up for the march, which was scheduled to start from Zoo Park in Windhoek.
The march was planned as a show of solidarity with alleged victims of NDF beatings, whose accounts were carried by the media last week.
The unrelenting Tjatjara said despite the march being unsuccessful, authorities should account for the numerous NDF assault allegations reported last week.
A prominent case was that of Luise Mwanyengapo, who sustained a fractured skull after heavy-handed soldiers allegedly pounced on her at Freedomland in Katutura.
An officer attached to the VIP protection unit was allegedly also brutally assaulted. He sustained a bruised face and cut lip.
Two other victims, Kyle Sullivan and Uendjii Tjituka, likewise claimed that they were assaulted by soldiers.
Sullivan alleged that the soldiers beat him – using a sjambok – at Club London in the Southern Industrial Area, and also slapped him.
Tjituka alleged that soldiers attacked him at around 23h00 as he was loading chairs at Zauana Supermarket in Katutura after a graduation party, while Alexander Afonso (30) was the latest victim of the ongoing brush between civilians and the military.
He told The Namibian last week that he was coming from the Namibian Traffic Information System office in the Northern Industrial Area when he was harassed by an NDF member and a policeman who emerged from an NDF vehicle.
NDF spokesperson, lieutenant colonel Petrus Shilumbu last week gave an assurance that the army was investigating claims that soldiers had assaulted civilians in several parts of Windhoek. He was responding to a query by The Namibian about the progress the army had made in identifying the suspected rogue soldiers.
“Please be patient until the investigation is completed,” Shilumbu informed the newspaper.
Meanwhile, the Namibian Law Association (NLA) says it is willing to assist the alleged victims of military brutality, as reported last week.
“The NLA has reached out to some of the victims of these acts, and has undertaken to assist them in any future litigation that may result from these attacks in an effort to help restore their dignity.”
The statement issued last week by NLA governance council chairperson Taswald July also called for transparency from the NDF.
The NLA wants the public to be informed on the progress of the investigations as soon as those involved in the alleged brutality are identified, and also on what disciplinary measures those found guilty will be subjected to.
Further condemning the NDF’s actions, the association said the defence statement that ‘no order was issued green-lighting the assault of civilians’, is besides the point.
“Any such order would be ipso facto unlawful. The absence of such an order, however, does not absolve the NDF from liability for their members’ actions carried out in the course of an NDF operation,” the statement said.
In an age of information overload, Sunrise is The Namibian’s morning briefing, delivered at 6h00 from Monday to Friday. It offers a curated rundown of the most important stories from the past 24 hours – occasionally with a light, witty touch. It’s an essential way to stay informed. Subscribe and join our newsletter community.
The Namibian uses AI tools to assist with improved quality, accuracy and efficiency, while maintaining editorial oversight and journalistic integrity.
Stay informed with The Namibian – your source for credible journalism. Get in-depth reporting and opinions for
only N$85 a month. Invest in journalism, invest in democracy –
Subscribe Now!
