Survivors’ group demands accountability over Swapo’s alleged atrocities

Survivors and relatives of Namibians who say they suffered at the hands of Swapo during the liberation struggle have renewed calls for justice, following remarks by President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah at the funeral of former military commander Solomon &#039;Jesus&#039; Hawala last weekend.The group, known as The Conquerors, said in a statement that Nandi-Ndaitwah’s admission that Hawala “did not act alone” confirmed that the abductions, unlawful detentions, torture and forced confessions of the 1980s were not isolated incidents but the result of collective policy sanctioned by the Swapo leadership in exile.“For nearly four decades, survivors and families of the disappeared have waited in anguish, carrying deep scars of injustice while the truth was deliberately concealed,” the group said.“Families are still denied the dignity of burying their loved ones, and survivors continue to bear the lies forced upon them.”The Conquerors urged Swapo to come clean and lead a national truth-telling process, arguing that continued silence would disgrace the party once recognised by the United Nations as the “sole and authentic representative of the Namibian people.”Full disclosure The group also dismissed blanket amnesties such as AG 13, saying they mocked justice and could not erase the crimes or shield perpetrators. “Enforced disappearance is a continuing crime under international law, with no statute of limitations,” the statement noted.The survivors pointed out that Namibia has ratified key international treaties, including the Convention Against Torture and the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court, which oblige the state to investigate, prevent and remedy acts of torture, enforced disappearances and crimes against humanity.They called on Nandi-Ndaitwah, in her dual capacity as head of state and leader of Swapo, to move beyond “selective acknowledgment” and to ensure full disclosure of past atrocities. Alive, dead or missingThe Conquerors said justice demands full transparency, national healing requires truth-telling and survivors and families of the disappeared deserve recognition and redress.As part of their demands, the group called for the release of all written and audio-visual confessions made by detainees, as well as the publication of a complete list of all Swapo detainees, whether alive, dead or missing.They further urged the declassification and release of files from both Namibia and South Africa relating to alleged apartheid spies, and requested that South Africa’s ruling party, the ANC, as a sister liberation movement, cooperate in providing any records in its possession. In addition, they pressed for the disclosure of the fate and whereabouts of the thousands of people last seen in Swapo detention camps in Angola and Zambia.The statement was issued by Dr Leefa Penehupifo Martin on behalf of The Conquerors.

Survivors’ group demands accountability over Swapo’s alleged atrocities

Comments

Namibian Sun 2026-05-07

Please login to leave a comment

Survivors’ group demands accountability over Swapo’s alleged atrocities

Comments

Namibian Sun 2026-05-07

Please login to leave a comment

Subscription Required to Access Content ×

Login

Subscription Required to Access Content