Rudolf Gaiseb

Body of Christ Party leader Festus Thomas has urged law enforcement agencies to treat all members of parliament with respect and dignity. 

This is after he was reportedly harassed by a police officer at the home affairs headquarters in the capital recently. 

Last week, Thomas told New Era he was unable to wait in the queue at the ministry when he sought service at the ministry.

He then asked the security officer if he could be privileged to skip the line, being an MP. He introduced himself as such and showed the officer his card.  

In a letter to the line minister Lucia Iipumbu dated 7 July 2025, Thomas wrote: “I was purposefully confronted and humiliated by the policeman. He said, ‘You MPs believe you are our boss, and you are extremely impolite… Why?’ I resisted his harsh instructions to move to the back of the line.”

Thomas, who wore a cap that day, was told to take it off or leave the building. 

“My request and the cap on my head had nothing sinister about any law of this country. I was extremely resentful and ashamed of the disrespectful treatment I received from my driver and bodyguard while in the public’s view. The way the specific police officer treated an MP [in front of] hundreds of people, as well as how my bodyguard and driver were perceived as seasoned criminals, shocked me greatly,” he wrote.

“I was embarrassed,” he told New Era.

Thomas has threatened to file a legal application if the Iipumbu did not respond yesterday.

“We demand that the government take appropriate disciplinary action and provide this officer with targeted, long-term respect to make amends for the harms he caused me,” he fumed.

He added that the letter articulates the MP’s vision of their fundamental right.

Legally, the current law does not allow MPs to skip lines or be privileged ahead of ordinary citizens at businesses, public service institutions, or health facilities.

Reacting to the news, police spokesperson Kauna Shikwambi said they were unaware of the incident. 

Shikwambi, however, hastened to say they do not condone violence or any form of maltreatment against MPs.

She, however, questioned “why would the honourable MP queue up like an ordinary citizen?”

Shikwambi added: “He [Thomas] should have communicated before the visit to the premises for the ministry to make necessary arrangements.”

She added that relevant steps will be taken following a formal complaint by Thomas. -rrgaiseb@gmail.com