Iuze Mukube
Social activist Michael Amushelelo will today hear the outcome of the charge against him, meted out by Acting Judge Anne-Doris Hans-Kaumbi.
On Monday evening, a decisive ruling convicted the social activist of contempt of court. He was arrested following a dramatic confrontation, where he publically denounced the judiciary as “puppets and “little gods”. Acting Judge Hans-Kaumbi ordered for his immediate arrest late in the evening after finding his remarks grossly contemptuous. The matter pertained to a suit that was lodged by Namibian Police Inspector General Joseph Shikongo.
It sought to interdict Amushelelo from further posting defamatory allegations against him on social medial platforms
He had disrupted court proceedings earlier that day. Amushelelo claimed that his rights were being violated because the matter was proceeding without a legal representation of his choice. He had filed an application, seeking Hans-Kaumbi’s recusal, alleging bias. It was during the submission for the recusal application that an outburst earned Amushelelo time behind bars for denouncing the judiciary. He said proceeding with the matter would be a “miscarriage of justice” when the court was aware that he is a layman or a lay litigant.
“It is only a foolish sheep that rejoices at the prospect of being taken to an abattoir. Now, I refuse to be a sheep. That is why I want my constitutional rights in Article 12 to be respected,” Amushelelo told the judge.
He stated that allowing the court to continue with the matter despite his serious objections is similar to “…watching a child being molested in the presence of their parents…” Amushelelo pointed to his unemployed status, and sought indulgence from the court for the judge to recuse herself from the matter.
Nambili Mhata, representing Shikongo, said during the proceedings, Amushelelo committed three incidents of contempt.
One first instance is where he failed to comply with the court order of 9 October 2024, making the settlement agreement of 7 October 2024 an order.
In the second, Amushelelo acknowledged receipt of court documents via a Facebook post. He later published another post on 4 April 2025, referencing the 7 April hearing ,and inviting members of the public to attend. This demonstrates clear awareness of the court document. Another incidence is where Amushelelo made a remark in a Facebook post.
“Shikongo should take note that the court will never silence me. Whatever the court does, I shall not comply. If the court wants to arrest me, so let it be,” he then wrote on Facebook. Amushelelo violated a court order not to make defamatory allegations by continuing to post such content on social media – even after agreeing to refrain from doing so. Amushelelo used social media to attack Shikongo and invite the public to court proceedings, demonstrating contempt for both the order and the court’s dignity, Mhata said.
Hans-Kaumbi dismissed the recusal application, stating that Amushelelo failed to present any substantive evidence of bias.
However, she directed that the contempt of a court order case be referred to the Registrar for reassignment to a different judge. She then ordered that Amushelelo be detained at the Windhoek Correctional Facility’s trial-awaiting section until today when he is expected to appear in court for mitigation prior to sentencing.