ABOUT 81 villagers decided to sue the Zambezi police for burning their shacks, fish and canoes on 23 December 2014 in the Muyako and Zilitene area along Lake Liambezi.
This happened during a police festive season operation intended to smoke out foreigners in the area, which was spearheaded by commissioner Boniface Mukendwa.
The police apparently chased out everyone, poured petrol on the shacks and fish before setting them alight on the islands along Lake Liambezi.
Devia Yambwa, who is the leader of the 81 people suing the police, told The Namibian that investigations found that the police were in the wrong.
“We received a letter from the safety ministry on 30 June, informing us that the police were in the wrong, and that we can open a case of malicious damage to property and assault, or sue them. We have opted to sue them because the people have lost a lot, and we need to be compensated for the damages,” Yambwa stated.
These were honest fishers and traders who were supporting their families from the income they made from fishing. The fish burnt by the police was a great loss to the community members.
The headman of the Zilitene area, Henry Lubasi, said “they did not even tell us to remove our property”.
“The police came around 10h00, instructed us to come out of our shacks, and started pouring petrol and burnt our shacks and fish. We were traumatised by their actions, and could not do anything about it. We, therefore, also ask the government to assist us with legal aid in our plight to sue the police,” he noted.
Catherine Masiziani, a fish trader at the time, said she lost a lot, and wants to be compensated for the loss.
“What happened on that day was not fair at all; we were treated poorly by the police. I lost my goods, money and fish during the fire. I want to be compensated for that,” she said.
Melvin Sibitinani, a fisherman from the Muyako area, said they tried to show the police their identification documents and fishing licences, but the officers refused to look at them.
“We tried to prove that we are Namibians and legal fishers, but they did not even look at our documents. The fish they burnt was a lot; that was a loss of income for us,” he stressed.
