The arrest of |Uis activist Jimmy ||Areseb has drawn widespread criticism from social activists and political figures, who have slammed the Namibian Police for their handling of tensions at the Dâure Daman Traditional Authority in the Erongo Region.
Ivan Skrywer, a member of the Landless People's Movement, denounced the police’s "heavy-handedness" and questioned the deployment of the Special Reserve Force to the area. "Police brutality will not restore peace—it fuels frustration," he said, urging law enforcement to act as peacekeepers rather than enforcers of force.
Windhoek-based social justice activist Shaun Gariseb raised legal and ethical concerns about ||Areseb’s arrest. He suggested that the police's actions were influenced by emotions or external pressures, calling for greater accountability. "Standing against corrupt traditional leaders should not lead to victimisation. The time for being soft is long gone," Gariseb emphasized.
Michael Amushelelo, a member of the Namibia Economic Freedom Fighters (NEFF), likened the police’s conduct to apartheid-era oppression. He accused them of enabling land exploitation by foreign interests, particularly Chinese entities, in collaboration with corrupt leaders. Amushelelo also condemned the use of force against elderly protestors and warned that such actions could escalate into civil unrest. "Freedom means nothing when people are hungry, landless, and unemployed," he stated.
Commissioner Nikolaus Kupembona of the Erongo Region confirmed that Jimmy ||Areseb would appear before a magistrate’s court on Monday. "I do not have the docket with me, but you will be informed about the charges," he said.
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| The arrest of |Uis activist Jimmy ||Areseb |
The arrest follows an incident on Saturday when police forcibly removed protestors from the Dâure Daman Traditional Authority office. The protestors had been barred from gathering at the premises after the Authority secured a court order against them.
The incident has reignited debates about police conduct, the role of traditional authorities, and the ongoing struggles for land and justice in Namibia. Critics warn that the state’s failure to address these issues peacefully and fairly could lead to greater unrest in already volatile communities.