Ombudsman picks crack team

The Ombudsman has put together a team of experts to investigate what led to the death of struggle kid Frieda Ndatipo, who was shot last week. Prime Minister Hage Geingob made this announcement on Friday afternoon and said that the Ombudsman is empowered to investigate an incident of this nature. According to fellow struggle kids, Ndatipo, 26, from Eenhana, was shot by a police officer wearing civilian clothes while she was running away from the scene where the police and the group had clashed. Ndatipo was among the struggle kids camping in Windhoek demanding employment from the government. She was the mother of three young children. Shortly after Geingob’s announcement, five struggle kids were arrested on charges including malicious damage to property and defeating the course of justice on Saturday morning. They are expected to appear in the Windhoek Magistrate’s Court in Katutura today. Police said some struggle kids had damaged two police vehicles and injured a person on Friday evening. Geingob said an independent, credible, impartial and transparent investigation will be carried out in order to establish the truth of what exactly happened. He called on the citizens to render their full co-operation with the office of the Ombudsman. “I also call upon potential witness to come forward and give their evidence without fear or favour,” said Geingob. Ombudsman John Walters said advocate Danie Small will be heading the investigation. Also part of the investigating team is Dr Paul Ludik, the head of the National Forensic Laboratory, and investigators from the Ombudsman’s office. He said he would request the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) to make some of its investigators available. Walters said he would have a meeting tomorrow with Titus Iipumbu, who is representing the struggle kids, and group leaders to get a list of all potential witnesses. He called upon people who witnessed the incident to approach his office to provide statements. He said the information will be treated as confidential. Namibian Exile Kids Association (Neka) Secretary-General Rauna Amutati has said that the Swapo Party has begun digging its own grave. Amutati told a press conference on Friday that Neka would ask lawyers for legal advice on the issue of alleged police brutality. “The unskilled or untrained police officers that are walking the streets of Windhoek must be dealt with, otherwise every other person is a walking corpse,” said Amutati while calling on struggle kids to remain calm while they seek justice. “Any further major and peaceful demonstration will be announced in due course,” remarked Amutati. Meanwhile, Khomas Police Deputy Commissioner Sylvanus Nghishidimbwa told Namibian Sun that a group of 20 struggle kids stormed into the Katutura police station to free a member who was arrested earlier for smashing a windscreen at Okuryangava. “The complainant went to lay charges and while he was busy doing so, a group of about 20 kids came in at Katutura police station. They broke the counter door open and freed their friend and left,” said Nghishidimbwa. The police went to the camp on Saturday morning to arrest the suspects. WINDHOEK SELMA IKELA