Iuze Mukube 

An application lodged by former minister of justice Sacky Shanghala in the Windhoek High Court, seeks to restrain and stop the Prosecutor General and the Anti- Corruption Commission (ACC) from continuing to prosecute him. 

This, he says, is because the investigations conducted by the ACC which led to his prosecution was not conducted in an “independent and impartial manner” that is in accordance with the law.Apart from the former justice minister, James Hatuikulipi, Pius Mwatelulo and Otneel Shuudifonya are also partaking in the application. 

Shanghala also wants an order declaring that his right to a fair trial is being infringed following the prosecution’s withholding of information and documentation to him. The applicants also want the information obtained from foreign jurisdictions, such as from Iceland, United Arab Emirates and Norway as unlawful and inadmissible. 

This is because there are no bilateral agreements for cooperation in criminal matters between Namibia and those countries. 

He also wants the court to prohibit the use of the investigations in any proceedings that was unprocedurally obtained by the ACC. Therefore, Shanghala seeks to stop the PG and the ACC in its track until the relief sought to set aside the investigations carried out in the case is finalised. In a court hearing on Tuesday, Shanghala stated that the application which was lodged on 7 November 2025 will take at least months to two years to be decided in that court and then in the Supreme Court. 

Acting Judge Marilize du Plessis informed Shanghala and all involved in the matter that the trial is set down to commence uninterrupted from next Monday. 

However, Shanghala stated the trial cannot proceed before the application has been decided, because if so, the trial will begin with investigations that he is claiming are filled with irregularities. 

The matter was postponed to 1 December 2025 for trial. -mukubeiuze@gmail.com 

Photo: Heather Erdmann