Threats won’t derail Namibia’s fight against crime, Imalwa says

Acting Prosecutor-General Martha Imalwa, who has led Namibia’s public prosecutions since 2004, has sent a stern warning to the criminal underworld, saying the justice system is not for sale and officials will not be intimidated by bullets or bribes.

In a telephonic interview with Namibian Sun last week, following recent high-profile threats against court officials and the death of Ondangwa control prosecutor Justine Shiweda, Imalwa addressed growing concerns over the safety of legal professionals.

Shiweda died on 7 February after being shot and attacked with a corrosive substance on 17 October 2025, reportedly after refusing a bribe.

Responding to claims that Shiweda had been offered a N$100 000 bribe to secure bail for an accused, former police officer Abner 'Kapilili' Mateus, Imalwa strongly defended her staff’s integrity.

She said that while prosecutors may face attempts at bribery, their resolve remains unshaken.

"Justine did not receive a bribe. That should be made clear. She has not received a bribe because she knew what she stood for. And that is how a prosecutor should act. We cannot receive a bribe. That does not mean that we cannot be attempted to be bribed,” Imalwa said.

She added that bribery attempts are not isolated incidents.

Escalation of violence

While bribery remains a common tactic, Imalwa expressed deep concern over a more sinister shift – the transition from financial persuasion to lethal threats.

"This is the first case that I heard... where [there was a] threat of killing, and which led to the death of a prosecutor," she noted.

"Yes, it happens to officials involved in the criminal justice system, because, you know, we are dealing with a different criminal, a type of criminal,” she said.

The PG acknowledged that the job of a prosecutor has become increasingly dangerous, adding that Namibians are only now recognising the “heavy burden” they carry in the face of such risks.

Bail under scrutiny

This month, 62-year-old pensioner Levi Vries – a former education inspector – was granted N$3 000 bail by the Ondangwa Magistrate’s Court after being arrested for allegedly threatening a court official.

"It doesn’t mean that because the threat is associated with or is made against court personnel, we should be blind to the core of our function," Imalwa said in response to concerns over the decision to grant bail. adding that a magistrate's job is to "ensure that justice prevails".

“It doesn’t mean that if our lives are in danger, then we should just take bold decisions where we need to act differently to ensure that every person who appears in our court receives justice,” she added.

Media’s role

Imalwa also urged the media to consider its role.

She said publishing high-resolution visuals of prosecutors in sensitive cases provides a “roadmap” for criminals.

"You go and take pictures of individual prosecutors. You know they are not protected. But you throw their faces in there. Those who are committing crime... to know," she said.

"You are also contributing to putting our lives in danger. Rather than adding to the protection of us."

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