Caprivi High Treason Convict Geoffrey Mwilima Released Amid Rising Zambezi Separatist Tensions
By TUW
After more than two decades linked to one of Namibia’s most sensitive political cases, Geoffrey Mwilima walked free from prison on Wednesday following the approval of a sentence remission.
Mwilima, a former Democratic Turnhalle Alliance (DTA) member of parliament and one of those convicted in connection with the Caprivi high treason case, was released after qualifying for remission — a correctional provision that allows for a reduction or cancellation of a sentence once a portion has been served under strict conditions.
Now aged 70, Mwilima was first detained in August 1999 after armed separatists launched coordinated attacks on government-related installations in Katima Mulilo, then part of the Caprivi region. Although arrested shortly after the attacks, he formally began serving a 15-year prison sentence in December 2015.
Confirming the release, Namibia Correctional Services (NCS) commissioner-general Raphael Hamunyela said the decision was granted strictly on the basis of good conduct and discipline during incarceration. He emphasized that remission is not automatic and is only extended to inmates who meet rigorous behavioral standards.
Hamunyela further cautioned that the freedom granted under remission comes with clear conditions, warning that any violation would result in immediate re-incarceration without the need for police intervention.
However, the development comes at a time of renewed unease in the Zambezi Region, where separatist sentiments have resurfaced. The United Democratic Party (UDP) continues to push for the secession of the Zambezi Region from Namibia, despite firm opposition from the state.
Since the beginning of this year, the party has staged multiple protests, during which it submitted petitions to government authorities reiterating its demands. These actions have raised concern among residents and officials, who view the renewed activism as a potential threat to stability in the region.
The release of Mwilima, therefore, occurs amid heightened tensions, underscoring the delicate balance between correctional policy, political history, and ongoing regional disputes in Namibia.
