Rudolf Gaiseb

The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Security has found most correctional facilities and police holding cells across the country in a deteriorated state.

This prompted them to recommend urgent reforms and upgrades at these facilities.

In their latest report tabled in the National Assembly recently for scrutiny, the committee said the overcrowding of detainees, including adverse living conditions faced by police officers, is of great concern.

“Urgent attention is required to address them in order to uphold the dignity and human rights of all persons affected. By tackling these critical deficiencies, police and correctional systems have the potential to transform the environments in which they operate,” the report reads.

The report is a response to the motion on the deplorable conditions in which holding cells and correctional facilities are, to protect the human rights of all persons with dignity. 

The motion was moved by the Popular Democratic Movement member of Parliament Inna Hengari in 2023. “I call on this House to join me in this motion to commit ourselves to the transformation of our prison system and the guarantee of the fundamental human rights of all Namibian citizens, irrespective of their situation. It is in these trying times that the strength of our commitment to justice and fairness will truly be tested,” she told the House at the time.

The report further reveals cross-cutting findings of a high degree of infrastructure neglect in all regions.

Across various regions, inmates are often subjected to environments plagued by significant overcrowding, insufficient sanitation facilities and an appalling lack of access to adequate healthcare services.

“The issue extends further with the provision of nutritional feeds, which are alarmingly deficient in many institutions. Inmates frequently receive diets that are poorly balanced, lacking essential nutrients vital for maintaining good health. This nutritional inadequacy can lead to a host of health problems, including malnutrition, weakened immune systems and a higher susceptibility to illness. Such health issues are not only a violation of basic human rights but also a testament to the neglect seen in ensuring the well-being of those in custody,” the Members of Parliament found.

Rooikop

Meanwhile, in the Erongo region, the Rooikop Training Centre had a bad open sewage system, broken pipes and no electricity in the barracks.  The centre barracks were declared uninhabitable.

The report reveals that the management had no other alternative, hence they kept the soldiers in the same building.

“The mess – a dining hall for soldiers – was nonfunctional, broken appliances were observed, and strong odours were obvious,” it states. Many of the trainees say the issues at the centre are not just inconvenient but a daily struggle. “We can’t even shower properly because the sewage system is clogged,” said one trainee, who, like many others, has become accustomed to broken pipes and the pervasive smell of sewage.

Another trainee, visibly frustrated, added: “We have no electricity in the barracks, so we’re left in the dark, literally and figuratively”.

The trainees, who prefer anonymity, told New Era that harsh realities are becoming all too common at the centre, where the poor state of the infrastructure is not just a matter of inconvenience but a serious impediment to the well-being and success of the people who rely on it for their professional training. This situation has also been declared inhabitable by the Parliamentary Standing Committee.

The committee highlighted the Rooinkop training centre as one of the facilities across the country that are in a deplorable state. This was remarked in its report to Parliament recently.

Compounding these issues is the alarming deficiency in the nutritional quality of food provided to prisoners across the country, with many receiving poorly balanced diets that threaten their health and well-being. At the Walvis Bay Police station, the mortuary was found to be too close to the food storage facility, which raised hygiene concerns.

Officers relied on community donations for basic supplies like stationery and vehicle parts.

“At the Swakopmund Correctional Facility, 104 inmates are served by only 65 staff, leading to understaffing and overworked officers. Beds in the facility are dilapidated and transport shortages hindered operations,” the report stipulates.

Another example is the Osire Refugee Camp in the Otjozondjupa region.

It had a population of 6 032 asylum seekers, primarily from Eastern and Western Africa.

It is reported to have a water shortage, with only five out of 15 boreholes.

Cross-cutting

Furthermore, issues affecting infrastructure and operational efficiency have also been highlighted across multiple regions.

The report reveals that “there is a high degree of infrastructure neglect in all regions”, accentuating the widespread deterioration of facilities.

In addition, the report highlights that centralised procurement processes under the Procurement Act have caused delays of up to six months for essential items such as spare parts, uniforms and stationery, with a specific example at Karibib Naval Air Base, where “the Air Traffic Control Tower was 90% complete but non-operational due to missing communication systems. 

Staffing shortages are another concern, with “a high volume of vacancies in magistrates, social workers and technical personnel” further impeding operations.

The report notes that 90% of facilities built pre-independence are neglected and need urgent modernisation.

Namibia’s detention and correctional facilities have been a concern for years.

 In 2023, member of Parliament Inna Hengari called for the reform of the country’s holding and jail cells. The Office of the Ombudsman has constantly highlighted deplorable conditions under which inmates are held as well as dilapidated police facilities.

Border security

The report notes that there is need for urgent modernisation as border security is compromised.

This is because 60% of border posts are ungazetted. This is attributed to insufficient patrols and surveillance.

These were ungazetted but frequently utilised, and lacked fencing, patrol vehicles and communication tools. Illegal crossings were rampant at ungazetted posts, such as those of Epupa and Okapalelona.

The committee wants the gazetting of all border posts and the deployment of biometric systems.

It stated there is a critical need for a data-driven approach to resource allocation. “This approach aims to systematically address disparities across various regions, ensuring that resources are distributed equitably and effectively where they are most needed,” the report reads. The committee recommends the building of aircraft hangars and munitions storage facilities.

It includes replacing the Rooikop barracks with modern housing and an overhaul of the kitchen infrastructure, utensils and electrical wiring. “Systemic reforms encompass expanding psychiatric and forensic services to regions, establishing regional forensic labs to reduce judicial delays, and investment in rehabilitation programs as a key priority,” the report underscores.

–rrgaiseb@gmail.com

-Additional reporting by Aletta Shikololo.