EDITORIAL: Namibia must not become a South Africa of political violence
The savage attack on Ondangwa control and regional court prosecutor, Justine Shiweda, last Friday is more than a crime against an individual - it is an assault on the very foundations of Namibia’s democracy.
Shot in the legs and doused with an acidic substance in her own home, with her children witnessing the horror, Shiweda survived, but the psychological scars will linger for a lifetime. Beyond the personal tragedy, the attack sends a chilling message that those tasked with upholding the law can be made targets simply for performing their duties.
Namibia has long prided itself on being a nation where the rule of law prevails. Its courts are respected, its legal system trusted, and its institutions regarded as pillars of stability. Yet incidents like this force a difficult, uncomfortable question about whether we are quietly drifting toward a reality where whistleblowers, lawyers, and public officials face mortal danger for doing their jobs.
In neighbouring South Africa, politically and criminally motivated killings reached such alarming levels that a dedicated political killings task team had to be established. If Namibia does not act decisively, we risk following a similarly destructive path.
Authorities must respond with urgency. The perpetrators of this appalling crime cannot be allowed to remain at large. Their arrest, prosecution, and punishment must be immediate, transparent, and uncompromising. The state must send a clear signal - that attacking those who uphold the law carries consequences. Anything less is a tacit invitation to further violence.
The implications of inaction are dire. Violence against public officials and the judiciary is contagious. When assailants perceive that legal protections are weak, or that the state hesitates, it emboldens
Shot in the legs and doused with an acidic substance in her own home, with her children witnessing the horror, Shiweda survived, but the psychological scars will linger for a lifetime. Beyond the personal tragedy, the attack sends a chilling message that those tasked with upholding the law can be made targets simply for performing their duties.
Namibia has long prided itself on being a nation where the rule of law prevails. Its courts are respected, its legal system trusted, and its institutions regarded as pillars of stability. Yet incidents like this force a difficult, uncomfortable question about whether we are quietly drifting toward a reality where whistleblowers, lawyers, and public officials face mortal danger for doing their jobs.
In neighbouring South Africa, politically and criminally motivated killings reached such alarming levels that a dedicated political killings task team had to be established. If Namibia does not act decisively, we risk following a similarly destructive path.
Authorities must respond with urgency. The perpetrators of this appalling crime cannot be allowed to remain at large. Their arrest, prosecution, and punishment must be immediate, transparent, and uncompromising. The state must send a clear signal - that attacking those who uphold the law carries consequences. Anything less is a tacit invitation to further violence.
The implications of inaction are dire. Violence against public officials and the judiciary is contagious. When assailants perceive that legal protections are weak, or that the state hesitates, it emboldens
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