WINDHOEK – Although Prime Minister Dr Hage Geingob has tasked the Ombudsman to probe the death of Frieda Ndatipo, the Namibian Economic Freedom Fighters (NEFF) party is demanding a presidential enquiry to determine who fired the fatal shot.
Frieda Ndatipo, 26, was allegedly shot dead by a policeman during skirmishes involving police and “struggle kids”, the fallen freedom fighters’ jobless children, demanding jobs from government.
NEFF is demanding that Ndatipo be accorded a state funeral and her family be compensated with N$650 000.
Ndatipo died last week near the Swapo Party headquarters in Katutura after succumbing to a gunshot wound.
Geingob last Friday announced he had tasked Ombudsman Advocate John Walters to lead the enquiry to establish the true details surrounding Ndatipo’s death.
NEFF declared in a statement signed by its communications commissar, Olsen Kahiriri: “To restore public confidence in the current government, government should handle this case of tragedy which ended Frieda Ndatipo’s life with the seriousness it deserves.
“Further, put a presidential enquiry to determine who actually was the culprit behind these actions, to avoid incidents of this nature in future. We are calling on government to accord Frieda Ndatipo a state funeral and to compensate her family to the tune of not less than N$650 000 apart from any other civil legal punitive measures against government by the Ndatipo family,” said NEFF.
According to the party, N$250 000 of that money should be used for the upkeep of Ndatipo’s three children while the remaining N$400 000 must be placed in a trust until the three kids ‘come of mature age.’
NEFF further condemned the incident and accused police who are also conducting a parallel investigation into Ndatipo’s murder, of “being careless.”
NEFF stated three minor children were robbed of a magnificent mother through what it says were the “reckless” actions of the Namibian police force.
“This was not an isolated incident vis-a-vis there are a lot of incidences reported of police intimidation and harassment meted on the citizens of this country coupled with mishandling of situations and cover-ups to protect their own interests,” charged the party.
NEFF claims money meant for the upliftment of the youth to alleviate poverty had gone missing.
It says the demands by the “struggle kids” are reasonable and legitimate.