The Witness Protection Act has been operationalised, with John Shimaneni appointed as acting director of the Witness Protection Unit.
The act was passed in parliament in 2017.
The Ministry of Justice this afternoon announced that the operationalisation of the act was gazetted on Thursday.
“The immediate task of the ministry will be creating the Witness Protection Unit, which will be responsible for formulating regulations, policies, agreements, and operational activities,” the ministry said in a statement issued by spokesperson Simon Idipo.
Shimaneni, who is also the deputy executive director in the justice ministry, started his new role as the acting director of the Witness Protection Unit on Friday, until 31 March 2024.
“The Witness Protection Act was passed as a legislation to provide the legal framework for the procedures to be followed for protection measures, on behalf of the state, to witnesses and related persons who face potential risk or intimidation due to them being witnesses or related persons,” the statement notes.
Justice minister Yvonne Dausab in September 2020 said Namibia would need at least N$160 million to implement a witness-protection programme.
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