Fear, paranoia as judicial officers await stronger security

Fear for their safety is growing among magistrates and prosecutors across Namibia, with a magistrate recounting that an accused person walked into court carrying a sharp object and casually told the bench it was the weapon used to stab him.

The magistrate, speaking on condition of anonymity, described court security as "a serious issue" and said judicial officers feel increasingly vulnerable.

“We are at risk all the time,” the magistrate told Namibian Sun.

“The salary I get and the risk I am under does not make sense anymore,” the magistrate said.

The concerns were raised months after the death of Ondangwa regional control prosecutor Justine Shiweda, whose brutal attack shocked the legal fraternity and triggered calls for urgent security reforms.

Shiweda died in February after spending months in hospital following an attack at her home in October 2025, during which she was shot and doused with a corrosive substance. Authorities linked the attack to a criminal matter she had been prosecuting.

In the aftermath of her death, justice minister Wise Immanuel requested the immediate deployment of round-the-clock residential guards to the homes of approximately 400 magistrates and prosecutors.

In a letter addressed to then safety and security minister Lucia Iipumbu and copied to President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, Immanuel warned that attacks and threats against judicial officers threatened the independence and effectiveness of the justice system. He argued that neither homes nor workplaces should become places of fear for those tasked with administering justice.

The minister's request came while a technical committee was conducting a comprehensive assessment of security vulnerabilities within the sector.

At the time, Immanuel stressed that protection measures could not wait for the completion of the review, urging for immediate intervention.

‘I’m scared’

However, more than three months later, magistrates who spoke to Namibian Sun said they have not seen the promised protections materialise and maintain that even basic security inside court buildings remains substandard.

The magistrate alleged that there are instances where too few police officers are on duty, some security personnel are unarmed and certain courtroom doors do not properly lock.

“Any accused person can just come in. I lock my corridor because I’m scared. When I’m in court, anybody can enter,” the magistrate said.

The judicial officer further alleged that some accused persons have returned to court premises after being removed, while others have allegedly entered court buildings carrying dangerous objects.

“One accused person came with a sharp object and told me he had been stabbed with it. My question was, Why did you come to court with that?”

The magistrate said discussions were previously held around assessing the security of magistrates' homes.

“We told them we are not safe at work first. Before houses, look at the workplace,” the magistrate said.

The source also claimed some judicial officers have become reluctant to publicly raise concerns over security shortcomings for fear of victimisation.

Security tightened

Security concerns intensified earlier this year after reports emerged that a prosecutor in Grootfontein allegedly received threats referencing the Ondangwa attack.

According to reports, the prosecutor was warned not to allow “the Ondangwa incident” to repeat itself in Grootfontein. The reported threats resulted in criminal charges being pursued against suspects linked to the matter.

Responding to questions from Namibian Sun, the justice minister acknowledged the seriousness of the matter.

“The government views the potential risk facing both the magistrates and prosecutorial officials in a serious light,” Immanuel said.

He said a multi-stakeholder task force involving the judiciary, police and prosecutorial authorities was established late last year to conduct a comprehensive assessment of court security and the safety of judicial officers.

He said the task force has already submitted its report and the findings will guide future security interventions and resource allocation.

“At the moment, there are security personnel present in courtrooms throughout the proceedings,” Immanuel said.

United

The legal fraternity has repeatedly called for stronger protections for judicial officers.

In February, the Law Society of Namibia (LSN) described the attack on Shiweda as “an intolerable threat to judicial independence”, warning that violence directed at prosecutors, judicial officers and legal practitioners undermines the rule of law.

The Namibia Law Association similarly warned that attacks and intimidation directed at officers of the court amount to an attack on the administration of justice itself.

At Shiweda's funeral, chief justice Peter Shivute described attacks on officers of the court as attacks on the justice system itself, while President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah said no officer of the court should be expected to discharge their duties under fear, intimidation or threat.

Responding separately, prosecutor general Martha Imalwa said she was not aware of widespread incidents involving threats against prosecutors.

Office of the Judiciary spokesperson Viktoria Hango said security matters are being handled jointly by the judiciary, the justice ministry, police and the prosecutor general's office.

Hango said strengthening security arrangements for judicial officers forms part of an ongoing collaborative effort among institutions within the criminal justice system.

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