Lahja Nashuuta
GOBABIS – The San community residing in the Omaheke region’s Gobabis and Vergenoeg this weekend received training on justice and human rights-related matters.
The five-day training that commenced on Friday to Sunday was delivered by the Legal Assistance Centre (LAC), in collaboration with the European Union.
Corinna van Wyk, the lead project coordinator at the LAC, said the training was designed to equip the populace with legal skills to battle the longstanding challenges and hardships on their own.
The training intends to empower the San community with tools to navigate the justice system and protect their rights.
“This partnership seeks to transform access to justice from a distant aspiration into a tangible reality, enabling the San communities to exercise their dignity, autonomy, and rights,” she said.
A major focus of the training was on community policing, with the Vergenoeg San community providing valuable lessons through their own crime prevention efforts.
Speaking at the training, Magdalena Jacob, a member of the community police in Vergenoeg, said, “In Vergenoeg, we believe that community safety is a shared responsibility, where both traditional practices and modern policing methods should work hand in hand. By coming together as a community, we can face challenges, prevent crime and ensure peace for all.”
During the training, participants engaged in a field visitation to Vergenoeg, where they observed and learnt firsthand from local youth, women, and community leaders about the community’s approach to conflict resolution and crime prevention.
Silke Höfs, the programme manager at the EU Delegation to Namibia, emphasised the pivotal role paralegals can play in bridging the gap between marginalised communities and formal justice systems.
“Trained paralegals serve as critical connectors between their communities and the formal justice system,” she noted.
“They are advocates, educators, and facilitators, ensuring that justice is not just a principle but something tangible and meaningful for the people they serve,” she said.
Meanwhile, Omaheke governor Pijoo Nganate stressed the importance of paralegals advocating for the rights of their own communities, highlighting their essential role in promoting community safety and legal empowerment.
He urged all to embrace their San heritage and language.
In Gobabis, as part of the training programme, participants also had the unique opportunity to engage in a conversation with Frans Kamtieb, the senior headman representing the chief of the Naro San.
Kamtieb shared valuable insights on how the San traditionally addressed safety and crime issues within their communities. He emphasised the importance of community-based approaches, highlighting the role of traditional leadership in maintaining order and resolving conflicts.
He also lectured the community on how indigenous practices can complement modern law enforcement efforts to promote peace and security in San communities.
The session incorporated traditional and cultural performances, including dances, which allowed participants to experience the rich heritage of the San people and celebrate their cultural identity as an essential part of community cohesion and resilience. -lnashuuta@gmail.com