Police accused of instigating witch-hunt in the North

THE National Society for Human Rights (NSHR) lashed out at the Namibian Police yesterday, claiming that it had filmed the brutal beating of two women by a mob, allegedly led by two Special Field Force (SFF) members, at Okahao.

The women had been accused of witchcraft and from the video evidence, it seems that the mob was trying to get them to confess to poisoning a number of the town’s residents. The beating victims, 19-year-old Natshipolo Ageshe and 33-year-old Rachel Kapolo, were repeatedly beaten with fists, sticks, and makalani tree branches, while members of the group shouted that they should die.According to the NSHR, the main instigator in the attack was a man identified only as Mathew or Nufu, who was said to be an SFF member based at the Okahao Police station.The video recording shows the man knocking over Kapolo, kicking her and ordering other members of the group to beat her up.He also called for bystanders to provide him with wire and pliers, which NSHR Director Phil ya Nangoloh says were tools commonly used by Plan fighters during the liberation struggle to torture political opponents and those accused of witchcraft.The practice, Ya Nangoloh says, is commonly known as etopola.When The Namibian phoned the Okahao Police station yesterday, it was confirmed that a person by the name of Mathew aka Nufu is in fact employed there.However, he could not be reached for comment.The NSHR also identified a supposed SFF member from the Onemanya Police station, about seven kilometres south of Okahao, as part of the group.The woman, whose name was given as Constable Nakanyala, was shown questioning the two women about their alleged poison attacks on residents, some of whom apparently survived and formed part of the mob.”We condemn the fact that no one has yet been arrested for this,” Ya Nangoloh said yesterday after showing the film to media practitioners.”We’ve notified the Police, but no measures have been taken as yet.What are the Police there for in the first place? They’re supposed to maintain law and order, but they are in fact responsible for instigating what happened,” he said.”There is a wide degree of impunity in this country,” he continued.”Police commit crimes and are not prosecuted.Citizens in favour with the Police get away with things,” he said, adding that the NSHR would consider showing the tape to parliamentarians.The Police’s public relations department said yesterday that they had requested a report on the incident from their office in Okahao, which is only expected to reach them today.Chief Inspector Angula Amulungu said whether the two individuals in question were in fact Police officers could only be established once they received the incident report.The beating victims, 19-year-old Natshipolo Ageshe and 33-year-old Rachel Kapolo, were repeatedly beaten with fists, sticks, and makalani tree branches, while members of the group shouted that they should die.According to the NSHR, the main instigator in the attack was a man identified only as Mathew or Nufu, who was said to be an SFF member based at the Okahao Police station.The video recording shows the man knocking over Kapolo, kicking her and ordering other members of the group to beat her up.He also called for bystanders to provide him with wire and pliers, which NSHR Director Phil ya Nangoloh says were tools commonly used by Plan fighters during the liberation struggle to torture political opponents and those accused of witchcraft. The practice, Ya Nangoloh says, is commonly known as etopola.When The Namibian phoned the Okahao Police station yesterday, it was confirmed that a person by the name of Mathew aka Nufu is in fact employed there.However, he could not be reached for comment.The NSHR also identified a supposed SFF member from the Onemanya Police station, about seven kilometres south of Okahao, as part of the group.The woman, whose name was given as Constable Nakanyala, was shown questioning the two women about their alleged poison attacks on residents, some of whom apparently survived and formed part of the mob.”We condemn the fact that no one has yet been arrested for this,” Ya Nangoloh said yesterday after showing the film to media practitioners.”We’ve notified the Police, but no measures have been taken as yet.What are the Police there for in the first place? They’re supposed to maintain law and order, but they are in fact responsible for instigating what happened,” he said.”There is a wide degree of impunity in this country,” he continued.”Police commit crimes and are not prosecuted.Citizens in favour with the Police get away with things,” he said, adding that the NSHR would consider showing the tape to parliamentarians.The Police’s public relations department said yesterday that they had requested a report on the incident from their office in Okahao, which is only expected to reach them today.Chief Inspector Angula Amulungu said whether the two individuals in question were in fact Police officers could only be established once they received the incident report.