Student holds Unam examination officer at gunpoint over marks

A third year political science student allegedly held an examination officer at the University of Namibia’s (Unam) main campus in Windhoek at gunpoint on Monday.

Unam spokesperson Simon Namesho yesterday confirmed the incident, saying they are treating the matter with the attention it deserves.

“The university can confirm that the unfortunate incident occurred,” he said.

Police chief inspector Katrina Naukushu has confirmed that the examination officer opened a case against the student.

The Namibian understands that the student, also an orphan, allegedly went to the office of his lecturer, Rui Tyitende, with the gun, but found his door closed. He then headed to the examination officer.

He allegedly held her at gunpoint, demanding to have his marks changed on his academic record. He had allegedly not been attending classes or handing in assignments.

Tyitende and Connie Herselman are his lecturers.

The examination officer has asked not to be named, although she is known to The Namibian.

The university is yet to inform the staff of the university’s department of political and administrative studies where it took place, according to sources.

However, Namesho said they take such incidents very seriously and have acted to address the matter.

“Counselling and other necessary support are being provided during this difficult time,” he said.

The spokesperson said they are fully cooperating with law enforcement authorities who are now handling the case.

“We kindly ask for your understanding as we work to ensure the safety and well-being of all members of our university community,” Namesho said.

Tyitende yesterday said this is a serious security and safety concern as a similar incident happened to a colleague and there was a lackluster response from the university management.

“If the university cannot guarantee our safety, I might be compelled to carry my firearm to campus for self-defence purposes,” he said.

He believes universities ought to be safe spaces for both students and staff, and not a place where they should feel threatened.

“There are many examples of staff being shot at their work stations and it is only a matter of time before it happens at Unam,” he added.

Speaking on lecturers’ safety, associate professor Job Amupanda, in the same department, says a “mad person” came to his office once before.

“Generally, the university is no longer what it used to be. Lecturers are an endangered species at our once glorious university,” he said yesterday.

A source told The Namibian the student complained that the university is not sympathetic to the conditions the students face.

Psychologist Shaun Whittaker yesterday said the student must have been desperate.

“Unfortunately, it’s a reflection of our culture, it’s desperation, it’s anxiety, it’s depression.

“It’s about all kinds of emotions and, obviously, one would assume that a student like that would be quite angry at life, angry at university, angry at what is happening,” he said.

Whittaker said this is the part that should be understood when a student goes to such extremes.

“We must try to understand the emotion. I mean, I’m sure that there must be a level of comprehension of what this is all about,” he said.

For the examination officer, the psychologist said it must be extremely traumatic to have felt like their life was in danger.

“You must be absolutely scared, you must be scared to feel that your life is over.”