Police chief inspector general Joseph Shikongo has denied the United Democratic Party (UDP) permission to hold a public gathering in the Zambezi region, citing national security reasons.
The party, which was founded in 1985 by now exiled politician Mishake Muyongo, last week sought permission to hold public meetings on 14 May at Kapani village.
This comes after five people from the party were arrested two weeks ago at Kaliyangile village after attempting to hold an illegal meeting.
The main agenda points of the meeting intended for 14 May were to educate party members on the party, and to educate the public on the history of the Caprivi, and on a referendum on secession which was held in 1998. The party’s mission was initially to separate the Caprivi (now the Zambezi region) from the rest of Namibia.
The UDP’s latest notice of their intended public gathering was acknowledged, and was submitted on 25 April.
It was signed by party chairperson Katamba Vasco, secretary Sipiho Rinnicah, coordinator Makwanga Lawrence and the UDP’s organiser.
Shikongo in a letter to the UDP dated 5 May, said the gathering could lead to feelings of hostility between different sections of the population.
He said the intended gathering could be detrimental to the country’s security.
“Your ideology/philosophy of advocating the secession of Zambezi region is in conflict with the constitutional fundamental principle of identification of the Namibian territory …
“Therefore . . . you are forbidden from hosting, addressing or officiating any public gathering/meeting within the Republic of Namibia,” he wrote.
He said the UDP’s ideology of educating inhabitants on the history of the Caprivi is in conflict with the government’s proclamation which changed the Caprivi to the Zambezi region.
Shikongo further said the UDP’s ideology of educating people on a referendum had no legal foundation, as no such referendum exists.
“It has been observed in the past two months that UDP has been holding secret door-to-door campaigns by distributing party regalia, and it is within the public domain that quarters of society have a serious fear of the intended public gatherings,” said Shikongo.
He said the UDP has contravened the set conditions, resulting in the arrest of some of its members during past public gatherings which have been permitted.
Caprivi Concerned Group (CCG) secretary general Edwin Samati has described the police’s prohibition as a violation of the party’s constitutional right to assemble peacefully.
“The decision . . . is politically dangerous because it makes UDP members and leaders lose hope and faith in peaceful approaches to solving their political problem.
“Consequently, the UDP may consider using unlawful means as a last option,” he says.
Meanwhile, the five people arrested two weeks ago have since appeared in the Katima Mulilo Magistrate’s Court and have been granted bail in an amount of N$10 000 each.
The five suspects, Harris Mushe (41), Kubona Kasokonya (68), Ziambo Christopher (56), Kumpoma Ben (53) and Mubonda Mubonda (57), were charged with being in violation of the Public Gathering Proclamation of 1989.
Only Kubona Kasokonya has paid the bail amount, while the other four remain in custody.
Their matter has been postponed to 18 July.
Following the five people’s court appearance, the CCG supporters staged a peaceful demonstration last Wednesday, demanding that the members be released immediately, while also questioning why the set bail amount was the same as for serious offences.
The group handed over a petition to the control prosecutor, Bronah Mukoya, who promised to forward it to the Office of the Prosecutor General.
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