Baptism of fire for Kawana
Less than a week after joining the safety and security ministry, lawyers are breathing down Kawana’s neck over an unpaid bill emanating from the abuse of student demonstrators by the police.
OGONE TLHAGE
WINDHOEK
Lawyers representing student demonstrators who last year won a N$800 000 lawsuit against the safety and security ministry over alleged police abuse have given new minister Albert Kawana until 7 May to comply with the court order - or face contempt charges.
In a Cabinet reshuffle announced on last Wednesday, Kawana was moved to the safety and security ministry from fisheries, replacing Frans Kapofi.
Kapofi was minister of safety and security when the assaults occurred, but his ministry allegedly failed to honour the court order, leading to the fresh onslaught against his new successor.
The demonstrators - Jesaya Katambo, Fillemon Ndafika, Tuhafeni Kalola and Paulus Amukoto, who were students at the time - were assaulted by members of the Namibian police during a peaceful demonstration in August 2018.
The march was organised by the Namibia National Students Organisation (Nanso) regarding the non-payment of tuition fees by the Namibia Student Financial Assistance Fund (NSFAF).
The four successfully sued government and are to be paid N$200 000 each, but have yet to see a cent of the claims.
Criminal offence looms
“The minister of safety has to date not complied with the court order and refuses and or fails to pay the plaintiffs, notwithstanding being ordered to do so by the court,” the lawyer representing the four men, Henry Shimutwikeni, wrote to Kawana.
Kawana has been given until 7 May for government to cough up.
In the event the ministry fails to pay by this deadline, the men – through their lawyer – will approach the court and seek that Kawana “be held in contempt of court to seek an order compelling finance ministry to effect the payment as ordered”, Shimutwikeni wrote.
“You are reminded that contempt of court is a criminal offence and may attract a sanction of committal to imprisonment or a fine,” he added.
WINDHOEK
Lawyers representing student demonstrators who last year won a N$800 000 lawsuit against the safety and security ministry over alleged police abuse have given new minister Albert Kawana until 7 May to comply with the court order - or face contempt charges.
In a Cabinet reshuffle announced on last Wednesday, Kawana was moved to the safety and security ministry from fisheries, replacing Frans Kapofi.
Kapofi was minister of safety and security when the assaults occurred, but his ministry allegedly failed to honour the court order, leading to the fresh onslaught against his new successor.
The demonstrators - Jesaya Katambo, Fillemon Ndafika, Tuhafeni Kalola and Paulus Amukoto, who were students at the time - were assaulted by members of the Namibian police during a peaceful demonstration in August 2018.
The march was organised by the Namibia National Students Organisation (Nanso) regarding the non-payment of tuition fees by the Namibia Student Financial Assistance Fund (NSFAF).
The four successfully sued government and are to be paid N$200 000 each, but have yet to see a cent of the claims.
Criminal offence looms
“The minister of safety has to date not complied with the court order and refuses and or fails to pay the plaintiffs, notwithstanding being ordered to do so by the court,” the lawyer representing the four men, Henry Shimutwikeni, wrote to Kawana.
Kawana has been given until 7 May for government to cough up.
In the event the ministry fails to pay by this deadline, the men – through their lawyer – will approach the court and seek that Kawana “be held in contempt of court to seek an order compelling finance ministry to effect the payment as ordered”, Shimutwikeni wrote.
“You are reminded that contempt of court is a criminal offence and may attract a sanction of committal to imprisonment or a fine,” he added.
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