A Lethal Shot Announces the End of Democracy in Namibia

On the very day parliament passed the third Amendment of the Namibian Constitution, police fired on a  demonstrating crowd, killing Frieda Ndatipo, a young mother of three.

As one commenter puts it:"The needless killing of this young woman in front of Swapo HQ is tragic and also highly symbolic of the real state of affairs. It marks the bloody end of an era of hope and the beginning of a new phase of struggle in which Swapo will no longer be the automatically regarded as 'the sole and authentic representative of the Namibian people', but as a dangerous agency prepared to shoot down unarmed women. The death of this protester on 27 August 2014 will mark a turning-point in the political orientation of the youth and in their struggle for equal rights."

Now I am asking: is ALLOWING the use of live ammunition against demonstrators in a country that A) forbids executions(Art.6) and B)expressly allows peaceful political activities(Art.17) not a contradiction in itself? Especially when acknowledging that people can panic in certain situations?

Of course the SWAPO government immediately puts the blame on someone else once again, claiming a third force being involved in this shooting and their supporters of course start parroting Hage Geingob's words.

Seeing that Namibia has no independent institution to investigate this incident, it will just be swept under the carpet like so many other incidents. 

Summary Executions in Namibia?

When the father of the Nation, Sam Nujoma, openly advocates summary executions and his SWAPO advisers and companions don't institute damage control immediately, one has to start wondering where Namibia is heading after the November elections.

There are just too many indications now that our Constitution is no longer worth the paper it is written on.

First there was the exclusion of the public from taking part in the government of the country, which I complained about in my Letter to the Government. Then there is the obvious ignoring of the Ombudsman

as a representative of the people. Next there was the precedent set by the magistrate that robbers can be shot on sight without any repercussions. The proposed amendments, which can and probably will be implemented by a two third majority in parliament this week, are the final proof for this. 

The cries of the public for a referendum on the proposed amendments are being ignored.  The comments of certain parts of the public in favor of summary executions in the case of the magistrate are now officially taken up by the founding father, in direct violation of the Constitution and NO voice is raised against him. 

Do we need more confirmation that Namibia is at the end of it's democracy?

Protecting Our Rights in a Free and Democratic Country

Ok, seeing that there still is no news concerning the proposed amendment of the Namibian Constitution, I will get back to protecting our rights as inhabitants of a still free and democratic country.

Even though our inalienable rights are enshrined in the Constitution, the mass of the Namibian people do not know them. And even those that know them, do not know how to protect those rights. That is why those in positions of authority can trample on our rights every so often. If we, however, learn just a few things, we will be enabled to calmly face those situations and protect our rights with authority. That in turn will have the ripple effect of preventing further infringements on our rights.

All law enforcement officers are bound to follow the law. Once they step outside that law, they loose their authority and become liable for their actions like any normal person. Thus, once we know the law that governs them, we in fact can become what we are supposed to be - authority figures.

Below is a video explaining the terms "reasonable suspicion" and "probable cause". These two terms encompass the legal boundaries for a police officer to stop you, detain you, or arrest you. Get to know them or loose your rights.

Can Namibia save its Constitution from being amended?

After a week of discussions and demonstrations, there still is no final result to be reported. Can we save our Constitution from being amended arbitrarily by the SWAPO government with its two thirds majority?

Some how I have grave doubts today.

Quite a few public persons have spoken out against the proposed amendments.
Human rights organizations have initiated a campaign in opposition to the bill being passed, but the people as such are still too ill informed and too intimidated to really speak up. AND the rest of the world is too busy with their own problems to think of supporting a small African nation like Namibia.

The ONLINE PETITION has come to a standstill at a mere 250 signatures. This by no means reflects the convictions of the Namibian people, but their intimidated status.  It isn't a question of not having access to the internet either, because many of them have that via their i-phones these days. NO, fear of retribution keeps them from speaking up in public or sharing the link with others. 

The DEMONSTRATION  in Windhoek did not deliver any meaningful turn up and information about it is being hidden. Sure, it was arranged on short notice and only advertised via social media, but once again, fear of retribution kept the turnout low, especially after riot police was deployed the previous week at a meeting organized by the Konrad Adenauer Stiftung.

It remains to be seen if the CALL FOR INTERNATIONAL SUPPORT  by Misa will deliver any results at all. 

So, the coming week will most probably see the bill being passed by the two thirds majority in parliament. SWAPO wants a one party dictatorship and they will get it, come high or low water. That is why they did not ratify the AFRICAN CHARTER ON DEMOCRACY, ELECTIONS AND GOVERNANCE.

Fight for the Namibian Constitution picks up speed

On Thursday 7 August 2014 public concerns were voiced at a meeting organised by the Konrad Adenauer Stiftung in Windhoek and addressed by the Chairperson of the Law Reform and Development Commission, Sakkie Shangala. Shangala turned up late and left again early without having answered the questions that were asked.
Below are two videos, one from NBC, the other one taken by a private person.
It's obvious that the NBC does not bring the full version, but inserts the weak  excuse regarding the staff shortage as being the reason for the short notice given.







For Tuesday 12 August a peaceful demonstration is planned at the Parliament gardens at 13h00. That is the day the debate about the Constitutional Amendment bill will start in Parliament.
The question is if it can stay peaceful when, as was the case on Thursday, police in riot gear turn up.

The video below speaks for all of us Namibians.


In the meantime, our online petition is also picking up speed.

We

Call for International Support

for Namibian Campaign to Halt the Passing of the Third Constitution Amendment Bill