Hundreds of missing-persons cases spark alarm

A rise in reported missing-person cases, including those involving children and teenagers, has prompted a call for parliament to investigate the matter.

A motion was proposed in the National Assembly last Wednesday to refer the issue to the relevant standing committee for investigation and possible action. The motion described it as a “long overdue problem” affecting people across the country.

Body of Christ Party MP Festus Thomas said Namibia had seen a “concerning rise” in missing-person cases, citing media reports indicating that 432 cases had been opened in a period of less than a year.

He also cited figures attributed to the minister of home affairs, immigration, safety and security, stating that 201 people had been reported missing countrywide over the five years since 2019.

The issue was further linked to human trafficking, with Thomas saying the minister of gender equality and child welfare had confirmed 10 new trafficking-in-persons cases between March 2025 and April 2026. According to Thomas, this represented an increase from the six cases recorded during the previous period.

The motion also referred to the recent death of Ihuhwa Tomas, known as Brother Thomas Ihuwa, in Walvis Bay late last month. Thomas expressed concern over the circumstances, saying: “This is very shocking if no one is to be arrested.”

[email protected]