Unregistered clinics leave inmates without medicine, report warns
Oversight report highlights unsafe prisons
A government report warns that lack of essential medicines, prolonged detention due to unaffordable bail, overcrowding, gang influence and ancient infrastructure amount to human rights violations in some prisons.
Almost all Namibian correctional facilities have on-site clinics, but because these clinics are not properly registered with the health ministry, they cannot receive government-supplied medication, leaving many inmates without treatment for serious illnesses such as HIV, tuberculosis and other chronic conditions.
The finding is contained in a report compiled by the National Council standing committee on security, constitutional and legal affairs, following an oversight visit conducted at Namibia Correctional Service (NCS) facilities between 20 January and 25 February as part of the committee’s 2024/2025 annual plan.
Over a 21-day period, the committee visited correctional facilities across the country, including Windhoek, Hardap, Keetmanshoop, Gobabis, Swakopmund, Walvis Bay, Omaruru, Grootfontein, Divundu, Evalistus Shikongo, Elizabeth Nepemba and Oluno.
While Windhoek and Walvis Bay correctional facilities have medical doctors, most facilities rely only on registered nurses, enrolled nurses or health assistants.
Clinics screen inmates upon admission and discharge, treat mild ailments and provide healthcare education for chronic conditions, the report noted. However, without registration, inmates cannot access essential medicines, the committee warned.
Mobile outreach programmes and hospital referrals are used to fill the gap but are irregular and insufficient, the report warned.
“The clinics are essential for screening, treating and educating inmates, but without proper registration, inmates are denied access to the medicines they urgently need."
Bail crisis, overcrowding and gang influence
The committee members also found that overcrowding in prisons has reached crisis levels, while some inmates are forced to remain in detention for weeks or months simply because they cannot afford bail.
In Katima Mulilo, a 60-capacity cell held 262 detainees; Gobabis’s 60-capacity cells held 224 and Windhoek's cells accommodated 145 inmates despite a 120-person capacity.
The report stressed that overcrowding has contributed to a growing threat from gangs, with organised recruitment systems for smuggling, fighting and sexual assault. Attempts to curb gang influence by transferring leaders have largely failed.
Young detainees are particularly vulnerable, the committee found.
While some facilities separate minors, many are forced to mix with adults, violating international standards under the Nelson Mandela Rules. Moreover, legal representation is often inadequate, and court delays prolong detention.
Crumbling infrastructure, inadequate nutrition
The oversight visits further highlighted that many correctional facilities are colonial-era buildings in urgent need of rehabilitation or relocation.
Staff accommodation is insufficient, forcing some married officers to share unsuitable living spaces.
“Some structures were constructed as early as 1922, which were built to serve certain purposes. However, they need to be rehabilitated or revamped to ensure they are fit for human habitation.”
Facilities often have unsafe conditions, including toilets inside sleeping quarters, stagnant water and dangerous cooking arrangements using gas or wood.
“The kitchen is close to the cells and in most cases they were using a gas stove when preparing meals for [trial-awaiting] inmates. This practice is very dangerous in the event of a gas explosion. Some police stations were using wood for cooking, which is difficult during the rainy season,” the report noted.
While some facilities benefit from agricultural schemes providing maize, wheat, vegetables and meat, others lack these resources, leaving some inmates with food that falls below recommended international standards.
The report recommends urgent interventions, including clinic registration and resourcing, bail reform, expansion of remand facilities, alternative sentencing programmes and infrastructural upgrades. These recommendations were addressed to the safety and security ministry and justice ministry for consideration and implementation.
The committee also noted that it found that the NCS had implemented most of the recommendations forwarded to the ministry by the predecessor committees with only recommendations that required large funding to implement still pending, such as the large scale renovation of all key facilities and establishment of remand centres for trial awaiting inmates.
The finding is contained in a report compiled by the National Council standing committee on security, constitutional and legal affairs, following an oversight visit conducted at Namibia Correctional Service (NCS) facilities between 20 January and 25 February as part of the committee’s 2024/2025 annual plan.
Over a 21-day period, the committee visited correctional facilities across the country, including Windhoek, Hardap, Keetmanshoop, Gobabis, Swakopmund, Walvis Bay, Omaruru, Grootfontein, Divundu, Evalistus Shikongo, Elizabeth Nepemba and Oluno.
While Windhoek and Walvis Bay correctional facilities have medical doctors, most facilities rely only on registered nurses, enrolled nurses or health assistants.
Clinics screen inmates upon admission and discharge, treat mild ailments and provide healthcare education for chronic conditions, the report noted. However, without registration, inmates cannot access essential medicines, the committee warned.
Mobile outreach programmes and hospital referrals are used to fill the gap but are irregular and insufficient, the report warned.
“The clinics are essential for screening, treating and educating inmates, but without proper registration, inmates are denied access to the medicines they urgently need."
Bail crisis, overcrowding and gang influence
The committee members also found that overcrowding in prisons has reached crisis levels, while some inmates are forced to remain in detention for weeks or months simply because they cannot afford bail.
In Katima Mulilo, a 60-capacity cell held 262 detainees; Gobabis’s 60-capacity cells held 224 and Windhoek's cells accommodated 145 inmates despite a 120-person capacity.
The report stressed that overcrowding has contributed to a growing threat from gangs, with organised recruitment systems for smuggling, fighting and sexual assault. Attempts to curb gang influence by transferring leaders have largely failed.
Young detainees are particularly vulnerable, the committee found.
While some facilities separate minors, many are forced to mix with adults, violating international standards under the Nelson Mandela Rules. Moreover, legal representation is often inadequate, and court delays prolong detention.
Crumbling infrastructure, inadequate nutrition
The oversight visits further highlighted that many correctional facilities are colonial-era buildings in urgent need of rehabilitation or relocation.
Staff accommodation is insufficient, forcing some married officers to share unsuitable living spaces.
“Some structures were constructed as early as 1922, which were built to serve certain purposes. However, they need to be rehabilitated or revamped to ensure they are fit for human habitation.”
Facilities often have unsafe conditions, including toilets inside sleeping quarters, stagnant water and dangerous cooking arrangements using gas or wood.
“The kitchen is close to the cells and in most cases they were using a gas stove when preparing meals for [trial-awaiting] inmates. This practice is very dangerous in the event of a gas explosion. Some police stations were using wood for cooking, which is difficult during the rainy season,” the report noted.
While some facilities benefit from agricultural schemes providing maize, wheat, vegetables and meat, others lack these resources, leaving some inmates with food that falls below recommended international standards.
The report recommends urgent interventions, including clinic registration and resourcing, bail reform, expansion of remand facilities, alternative sentencing programmes and infrastructural upgrades. These recommendations were addressed to the safety and security ministry and justice ministry for consideration and implementation.
The committee also noted that it found that the NCS had implemented most of the recommendations forwarded to the ministry by the predecessor committees with only recommendations that required large funding to implement still pending, such as the large scale renovation of all key facilities and establishment of remand centres for trial awaiting inmates.
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