Renthia Kaimbi
Deputy Prosecutor General Edmund Marondedze allegedly unknowingly recorded himself criticising judges and disclosing purportedly confidential conversations with Prosecutor General Martha Imalwa about the Fishrot case before sharing the recording in a WhatsApp group for prosecutors.
The voice note was allegedly posted at approximately 22:08 on 5 October 2026 and subsequently deleted.
It reportedly captures a speaker attributed to Marondedze discussing the prosecution of former justice minister Sacky Shanghala, bail applications by Fishrot accused and tensions among senior officials in the justice system.
The recording contains remarks about white judges and suggestions that the justice system is working against the accused, raising questions about prosecutorial impartiality and public confidence in the judiciary.
Information seen by the Windhoek Observer indicates that the recording was allegedly circulated in the prosecutors’ group by Marondedze before being deleted.
The newspaper understands that Marondedze may have unknowingly recorded himself during a conversation with his son, who was reportedly admitted as a legal practitioner less than a year ago.
The circumstances surrounding the recording and its circulation could not independently be established.
The Office of the Judiciary declined to comment, while Imalwa could not be reached for comment. Sources, however, indicated that she had confronted Marondedze about the matter.
In the recording, the speaker makes direct reference to Shanghala’s prosecution, saying: “I’ll prosecute him… I’m doing my job.”
The speaker also alludes to past disagreements between Shanghala and Imalwa, suggesting that the former attorney general should have dismissed Imalwa when he had the opportunity because she is now in a position to prosecute him.
The remarks raised questions about whether personal or professional tensions could influence perceptions of the prosecution.
The recording alone, however, does not establish that Shanghala is being prosecuted out of personal animosity.
Shanghala is among the accused in the high-profile Fishrot corruption case involving alleged corruption linked to Namibia’s fishing industry.
The voice note also discusses Marondedze’s role in Ricardo Gustavo’s bail-related appeal, while expressing support for granting bail to some of the accused because of the length of time they have spent in custody.
“To prosecute them, I’ll prosecute them but I’ll give them bail,” the voice is allegedly heard saying.
The speaker refers specifically to former fisheries minister Bernard Esau, describing him as elderly and suggesting that he should be released on bail.
The remarks appear to distinguish between prosecuting the accused and whether they should remain in custody while awaiting trial.
The speaker then suggests that the accused face an uphill battle regardless of the quality of their legal representation, claiming that the broader system is against them.
The recording further contains remarks suggesting that white judges command greater respect in court because they speak with one voice, before calling a judge racist.
Separately, the speaker questioned the appointment and suitability of acting High Court judge Gladice Pickering, alleging that political connections influenced her career progression.
Pickering previously served as a senior magistrate before holding senior administrative positions in the justice system and moving to the Office of the Prime Minister.
The voice note alleges that her previous experience did not adequately prepare her for the demands of High Court adjudication, claiming she had limited exposure to certain procedures and required training after her appointment.
The speaker further alleges that Pickering initially faced resistance to a permanent appointment.
Additional claims suggest that her advancement received political backing and further insinuate that she is related to newly appointed Anti-Corruption Commission director Bryan Eiseb.
The alleged relationship, and any influence it may have had on appointment decisions, could not independently be confirmed.
Marondedze has denied responsibility for the recording, questioning its authenticity and suggesting that technology could have been used to fabricate the conversation.
“I’m not aware of anything of that sort. It has never originated from me. Even you yourself, do you think a person of my stature can have such a conversation?” he asked.
“Nowadays with technology, anything can happen. You should find out where it originated from because it was definitely not from me.”
He also denied posting the voice note in the prosecutors’ group.
“I’m thousands of kilometers away and everyone is calling and asking me about this (recording) whose contents I don’t know. I never posted anything on the prosecutors’ group,” he said.
