Finance deputy minister Maureen Hinda-Mbuende is suing former Windhoek mayor and leader of Affirmative Repositioning movement, Job Amupanda for N$1 million over a Facebook post. 

Hinda-Mbuende claims Amupanda’s social media post was defamatory and has caused damage to her reputation. 

Amupanda allegedly on 28 July 2021 posted a picture of a woman clad in jeans and a white t-shirt. The picture was accompanied by the caption: “It looks like deputy minister of finance Maureen Hinda during the liberation struggle. Maureen was soo WizWiz. It’s like she won’t think twice about taking a knife out!” 

In court papers, Hinda-Mbuende claims the post was meant to be understood by the public that the woman in the picture was her in her youthful days and a street girl ready to fight at a moment’s notice.

She also claims the post is stereotypical in that she being Damara would not hesitate to stab anyone. In addition, she said the post is meant to be understood that she has no integrity, a violent person capable of causing anyone bodily harm, an uncouth woman who was of loose moral values during the liberation struggle, not a law-abiding citizen. 

She further noted that the post paints her as a person who is unable to be trusted with public office, as she was violent and capable of causing bodily harm to someone.

“The defendant (Amupanda) has failed, neglected and or refused to apologise to the plaintiff and has of to date not removed the post from his Facebook account,” said Hinda-Mbuende. 

The post, which was published on 28 July 2021, as of yesterday has 2 800 reactions, 511 comments and it has been shared 39 times. 

Amupanda has since filed a notice of his intention to oppose the suit. The matter will be in court on 26 January. 

-mamakali@nepc.com.na