Special environmental courts yield N$4,9 million

Namibia’s special environmental court operations have resulted in fines worth N$4,9 million in one year.

These special courts were conducted at Katima Mulilo, Rundu, Okahao, Outapi and in Windhoek for 42 days between April 2022 and March 2023.

Prosecutor general Martha Imalwa revealed this at the official opening of the Environmental Crimes Court at Otjiwarongo on Monday.

“We see the total of cases amounted to 162 on the court rolls from April 2022 to March 2023. During the course of the operation, a total of 103 cases were finalised, and 14 cases resulted in acquittals and discharge . . ,” she said.

She said property forfeited to the state during the operation amounted to N$4 million.

“A total of 11 Zambian and four Angolan nationals were declared prohibited immigrants to Namibia and will never enter Namibia again,” she said.

Imalwa said special court operations took place at Katima Mulilo and Rundu from 6 May to 28 June this year.

“At Katima Mulilo, a total of 55 accused were convicted, and a total of N$83 250 was paid in fines. A total of 84 accused were convicted at Rundu, and a total of N$139 299 was paid in fines,” she said.

According to her, special courts at Katima Mulilo and Rundu made efforts to prosecute 140 accused, of which 114 are Namibians, 19 Zambians, six Angolans and one Motswana.

“In total, 26 foreign nationals were declared prohibited immigrants as having contravened the Nature Conservation Ordinance 4 of 1975 as amended and the Controlled Wildlife Products and Trade Act 9 of 2008 as amended,” Imalwa said.

She said the backlog of cases at Katima Mulilo and Rundu was reduced, with 89 cases removed.

ONGOING

Imalwa said two special courts are currently running at Oshakati and in Windhoek.

“The Oshakati special court started on 1 July, running till 30 August, while the Windhoek special court started on 1 August will run till 30 September,” she said.

She said the establishment of the Environmental Crimes Court would contribute to countering wildlife syndicates and reduce the backlog of these cases.

“I am aware that environmental crimes, including wildlife crime, corruption, financial crimes and money laundering are some of the top crimes listed in our national risk assessment. This calls for drastic efforts to root them out,” she said.

IN SUPPORT

Vice president Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah on Monday said there is a need for more special courts in the country, including courts to deal with tender disputes.

She said she was happy to see a special court on environmental and natural resource crimes.

“But, I would like to see more specialised courts coming up in this country,” she said.

“When I listened to the report of the prosecutor general, I was even more convinced that when you have special courts, your productivity is high,” she said.

Otjozondjupa governor James Uerikua said 30 rhinos were poached in Etosha National Park between January and July this year.

“This is an alarming number, and measures need to be put in place to combat this. This court came at an opportune time . . .

“As a region, we are also faced with high crimes as livestock theft is concerned,” he said.