Patience Makwele
The Namibian Police Force (Nampol) has denied allegations of a cover-up in a recent shooting incident at Okondjatu settlement in the Otjozondjupa region.
The debate intensified over the weekend after social justice activist Michael Amushelelo alleged that police attempted to conceal details surrounding the shooting incident earlier this month.
In response, Nampol spokesperson deputy commissioner Kauna Shikwambi rejected the allegations and insisted the force remains committed to “fairness, transparency and professionalism”.
According to Shikwambi, officers responding to a violent incident on 4 May allegedly came under attack from a suspect armed with a machete before officers shot and injured him in what police described as self-defence.
The Okondjatu incident, together with two other recent police shooting cases in Otjiwarongo and Walvis Bay, has renewed public debate around the use of force by police officers and whether the public can trust internal police investigations.
Political analyst and commentator Joubert Harushando said public scepticism toward police accounts often develops from years of frustration and perceptions that accountability is inconsistent.
“When communities repeatedly hear about police shootings but rarely see the outcomes of investigations, suspicion naturally grows,” Harushando said.
“People begin to feel the need for institutions to protect themselves first before protecting the public. Whether that perception is fair or not, it becomes damaging because trust is central to effective policing.”
He said social media also increases pressure on authorities because information spreads rapidly, often before official communication is released.
“If there is a delay in communication or if the public feels information is incomplete, alternative narratives immediately fill that gap. Once public trust begins to erode, every incident is viewed through a lens of doubt,” he said.
Human rights lawyer and governance commentator Jacqueline Mutinta Luboni said the issue goes beyond individual cases and reflects wider concerns around institutional accountability.
“The public does not only want assurances. People want visible accountability and transparency,” she said.
“When investigations are handled internally, some members of the public automatically question whether outcomes will truly be impartial. This is why transparency becomes extremely important.”
Luboni said repeated firearm-related incidents can deepen fear and tension between communities and law enforcement officers.
“For ordinary citizens, these stories are emotional. Some people immediately relate them to their own experiences with police or to stories they have heard from family members and communities,” she said.
“That emotional connection influences perception, even before investigations are concluded.”
In its statement, Nampol acknowledged public concern surrounding the recent incidents and said all reported cases remain under investigation.
The force said any wrongdoing would be addressed “without fear or favour”.
The police also stressed that the use of force by officers is regulated by law and only permitted under certain conditions, including self-defence and protecting others from immediate threats.
Nampol further urged the public not to spread misinformation and appealed for patience while investigations continue.
Social justice commentator Friedrich Ganaseb said frustration among the public is partly driven by poor communication from authorities during sensitive incidents.
“People do not want to hear about investigations months later with no updates,” he said.
“When communication is slow or defensive, communities feel ignored. That creates room for speculation and anger.”
Ganaseb said rebuilding public confidence would require more than public statements.
“Trust is built when institutions are open, when they communicate consistently and when the public sees consequences where mistakes are made,” he said.
Criminologist Evelyne Simeon said public trust remains critical for effective policing.
“A police force depends on public cooperation to function effectively,” Simeon said.
“The moment communities begin doubting law enforcement, it becomes harder to fight crime because people become reluctant to cooperate, report incidents or assist investigations.”
Simeon warned that growing perceptions of secrecy or excessive force could weaken relationships between police officers and communities.
Meanwhile, Nampol has repeated its commitment to professionalism, constitutional obligations and the use of minimum reasonable force.
The force also stressed that arrests do not imply guilt and urged the public to allow due process to take its course as investigations into the recent shootings continue.
