EDITORIAL: Shanghala’s red line bombshell

Former justice minister Sacky Shanghala has offered Namibia a rare, unvarnished glimpse into the mindset of those in power regarding the infamous red line. In his court submissions opposing summons to testify in Job Amupanda’s legal challenge for the fence’s removal, Shanghala candidly admitted that the issue deeply conflicts him – not as a public servant but as a farmer south of the colonial-era boundary.Shanghala’s reasoning is stark: he opposes removing the fence because it would hurt his business interests. In that moment, he laid bare a truth long suspected by many – that the red line remains firmly in place not for the greater good, but to protect the personal interests of an elite few.This revelation is damning but unsurprising. Nearly all Cabinet ministers own farms south of the red line. Their collective reluctance to address this injustice now makes perfect sense, thanks to the proverbial cat that Shanghala has let out of the bag. This is not merely a story of disease control; it is a tale of two Namibias.In one Namibia, leaders safeguard their own commercial enterprises, ensuring that the red line fortifies their economic dominance. In the other, citizens north of the line – many of whom are small-scale farmers – are left to contend with a draconian system that devalues their livelihoods and dismisses their humanity. The red line’s oppressive nature extends beyond business. Even individuals carrying meat for personal consumption are forced to throw it away, with claims that its ‘contamination’ would disrupt the commercial farming ventures of Shanghala and his peers.Shanghala’s candid confession should galvanise public demand for justice. Namibia cannot afford to remain a nation divided by a fence that symbolises greed, inequity and colonial legacy.

EDITORIAL: Shanghala’s red line bombshell

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Namibian Sun 2026-03-26

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EDITORIAL: Shanghala’s red line bombshell

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Namibian Sun 2026-03-26

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