IPC demands answers on shooting of traditional leaders

The Independent Patriots for Change (IPC) has questioned why there was no security during a traditional authority community court proceeding over a land dispute.

In a statement issued on Saturday by the IPC’s shadow minister of justice, Elvis Lizazi condemned the killing of Onelago village headman Sem Nepando, and the shooting of Iikokola village headman and National Planning Commission executive director, I-Ben Nashandi, in the Oshikoto region on Friday afternoon.

Nashandi sustained injuries and is currently hospitalised and in stable condition.

“It is regrettably disturbing news to the whole country that a community court session turned into a shooting range. The IPC has advocated for the immediate deployment of police personnel to the community courts in our country during the first session of the eighth parliament,” Lizazi said.

He claimed that justice and labour relations minister Wise Immanuel has promised that all community courts will be provided with protection during hearings countrywide.

He said community leaders’ safety should be a priority because they are helping to maintain unity and harmony in communities, and called on both the justice minister and the Namibian Police to pronounce themselves on the way forward.

He noted that much-needed protection is lacking in the community courts, which rely on members of the community to serve as security officers during court sessions.

“These individuals are not trained in matters of security and they are the most vulnerable members without any tools to be able to act in incidents of this nature,” he added.

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