Stefanus Nashama
The City Police confirmed that social activist Michael Amushelelo and a group of four men attempted to forcefully close down a shop at the B1 Service Station in Windhoek.
City Police spokesperson Marcelline Murapo told the Windhoek Observer on Thursday that the incident occurred on Wednesday morning, leading to a commotion between the group and City Police officials.
“On 5 February, a commotion unfolded at the B1 Service Station on Wednesday morning when activist Michael Amushelelo and a group of four men attempted to forcefully close down the shop at B1 Service Station,” Murapo stated.
She explained that while City Police members and other City of Windhoek employees were attending a meeting with B1 management, one of the employees reported that Amushelelo and his team were ordering cashiers and other workers to stop working while instructing customers to leave the shop.
“Amushelelo was shouting that the shop was closed, using offensive words,” said Murapo.
She said officers immediately called for reinforcement, prompting Deputy Chief Eliaser Iiyambo and Namibian police officials to respond to the scene.
Upon their arrival, tensions escalated further when Iiyambo ordered Amushelelo and his team to leave the shop.
“Amushelelo resisted at first but eventually complied,” Murapo said.
Earlier that day, Amushelelo, the leader of the Namibia Retail and Allied Workers Union (NRAWU), and other union members held a press conference at the Katutura Youth Complex to discuss issues related to the union.
After the meeting, they went to the B1 Service Station, where the incident occurred.
Amushelelo told the Windhoek Observer that their visit to B1 was to address concerns about the deduction of membership fees from workers.
“We did not disrupt the business operations of the station as the police may think,” he said.
Amushelelo refuted allegations that the purpose of the press conference was to discuss business shutdowns.
“Our focus was on executing our normal duties as a union, especially regarding how our members’ membership fees are being deducted,” he insisted.
He explained that their visit took a turn when law enforcement unexpectedly intervened, calling the police’s actions unnecessary and unlawful.
“Iiyambo had previously unfairly arrested me during other incidents, including one involving vendors at Black Chain. We did nothing wrong. We didn’t violate any law,” he said.
