Rid Namibian police of rogue officers

Videos of Namibian police officers assaulting alleged illegal immigrants from Zambia are a continuation of many violations that have become common place within the national police force.

When Namibia imposed the first lockdown five months ago, another wave of videos went viral where suspected offenders were made to bath in their own fermented traditional brews as punishment.

What followed was a round of condemnation by police chief Sebastian Ndeitunga, who promised that action would be taken against his officers.

Ndeitunga did not issue a subsequent public statement, like he did when the videos emerged, on the outcome of disciplinary measures against the men, if at all any were instituted.

The fact that police officers continue to violate rights of people who are supposed to remain innocent until proven guilty means there is nothing being done within the force to deter would-be culprits.

The unprecedented leniency which rogue police officers continue to enjoy while violating rights of civilians at will only serves to sow the seeds of similar behaviour from their peers in the force.

Ndeitunga can scream condemnations until the second coming of Jesus, but as long as his officers keep getting away with crimes such as the killing of Frieda Ndatipo six years ago, the abuse of civilians will continue unabated.



Namibia shouldn't be condemning the police brutality in other countries, like in a statement issued by the international relations ministry in June in the wake of George Floyd's killing, when this is the order of the day here at home.