Police halt planned cannabis march
The Namibian Police have reportedly refused to grant permission for a march against the criminalisation of cannabis possession that was planned for 10 December.
According to the police, the march cannot proceed because foreign nationals have been invited to participate.
“The proposed march may [. . .] be detrimental to the sovereignty and integrity of Namibia, national security, public order, decency, and morality, due to the involvement of foreign participants from South Africa and European countries who are coming to Namibia specifically for the sole purpose of participating in the march.
"It is on the basis of the above background that your proposed march may not proceed,” reads the official letter from the office of the police chief, Inspector-General Joseph Shikongo.
‘No sense’
The application for permission for the march was initially submitted on 2 July on behalf of the Ganja Users of Namibia (GUN) and signed by GUN’s secretary general, Borro Ndungula.
Another application was submitted earlier this month. According to the application, GUN, in collaboration with the Rastafari United Front (RUF), intends to hold the peaceful march to raise awareness among Namibians about a case in the High Court in Windhoek challenging the constitutionality of laws against cannabis possession.
“Since the cannabis case is attracting international attention, protesters will come from as far as South Africa and Europe to participate. GUN expects 1 000 people to join the march,” the initial application stated.
In the second application, GUN appealed to government to “stop selectively allowing drugs, as certain large stores and pharmacies in Namibia freely sell cannabis products without prosecution, while every day cannabis users are arrested.”
According to Ndungula, the police recommended that he reapply for permission to hold the march, on the condition that no foreigners be involved.
“That doesn’t make sense. We will speak with our lawyers.”
– [email protected]
According to the police, the march cannot proceed because foreign nationals have been invited to participate.
“The proposed march may [. . .] be detrimental to the sovereignty and integrity of Namibia, national security, public order, decency, and morality, due to the involvement of foreign participants from South Africa and European countries who are coming to Namibia specifically for the sole purpose of participating in the march.
"It is on the basis of the above background that your proposed march may not proceed,” reads the official letter from the office of the police chief, Inspector-General Joseph Shikongo.
‘No sense’
The application for permission for the march was initially submitted on 2 July on behalf of the Ganja Users of Namibia (GUN) and signed by GUN’s secretary general, Borro Ndungula.
Another application was submitted earlier this month. According to the application, GUN, in collaboration with the Rastafari United Front (RUF), intends to hold the peaceful march to raise awareness among Namibians about a case in the High Court in Windhoek challenging the constitutionality of laws against cannabis possession.
“Since the cannabis case is attracting international attention, protesters will come from as far as South Africa and Europe to participate. GUN expects 1 000 people to join the march,” the initial application stated.
In the second application, GUN appealed to government to “stop selectively allowing drugs, as certain large stores and pharmacies in Namibia freely sell cannabis products without prosecution, while every day cannabis users are arrested.”
According to Ndungula, the police recommended that he reapply for permission to hold the march, on the condition that no foreigners be involved.
“That doesn’t make sense. We will speak with our lawyers.”
– [email protected]
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