ONGWEDIVA - Namibia’s Ombudsman Basilius Dyakugha has expressed concern over overcrowded holding cells at Opuwo police station, describing the situation as an “indignity to human rights”.

During an inspection at Opuwo, Dyakugha said he has observed the living conditions of the inmates in the holding cells and thus said no person deserves to live in such conditions.

“Holding cells are very overcrowded. About seven people are locked in a cell that is meant for only four people and less,” expressed the ombudsman.

Dyakugha said that not only are the cells old and overcrowded, there is poor sanitation as the cells do not have running water and inmates collect water in plastic bottles from an outside tap for drinking, washing, and flushing toilets, there are also not enough beds and many inmates sleep on the floor on thin mattresses.

Adding to the same sentiments, the chief clerk in the office of the ombudsman, Timothy Shangadi, said the issue of no beddings in holding cells is fundamental and should be addressed.

“During the apartheid era, the colonial masters provided thin mats for inmates, up to now, the inmates are still given those mats to sleep on. Imagine awaiting your trial for five years, sleeping on that mat, in the dark, just to be found not guilty. It will definitely take a toll on their mental health,” said Shangadi before stating that the ombudsman fights for those who are deprived of their dignity and rights.

 “When a person’s liberty is taken away lawfully, you don’t take away their dignity,” he further added.

He also urged those in police custody to report issues of mistreatment such as indignity to the ombudsman.

When contacted for a comment, the police’s regional commander in Kunene, commissioner James Nderura, confirmed the situation and said it has been an issue of concern for many years.

“Yes, the cells are very overcrowded. The cells were built back during apartheid and it was only built to accommodate about 45 inmates, but now there are about 80 to 90 inmates. The station also has not been rebuilt since the apartheid years, hence it’s very old,” he explained.

Nderura also said that the number of inmates at Opuwo police station has been increasing over the years because it accommodates people arrested at the majority of the police stations in the region.

“When the rest of the other holding cells in Khorixas, Fransfontein, Okanguati, and Kamanjab are full, we accommodate those inmates. So, we have already taken this matter up with the headquarters in Windhoek and we are awaiting a response on the way forward,” he said.

On the issue of beds, Nderura said the beds are not enough for all inmates, hence some sleep on the mattresses on the floor.

“If the cells can only accommodate four people and it has 10 people, obviously where else would the rest sleep?” he asked.

The issues of police station overcrowding are not only felt in the Kunene region, the ombudsman’s 2020 annual report shows that many Namibian police stations are overcrowded and in bad shape.

-ashikololo@nepc.com.na