Tujoromajo Kasuto
Windhoek’s Mayor, Job Shipululo Amupanda, says the Redline case is expected to start end of August in the Windhoek High Court.
With the case Amupanda is challenging the continued existence of the Redline, also referred to as the Veterinary Cordon Fence (VCF), for more than 100 years. “The court case in which the Land Minister Calle Schlectwein and the government are fighting and defending to keep the colonial instrument, the 1896 Redline that discriminated more than 60 percent of the Namibian [population] for more than 1245 years, will officially start the case planning, before Justice Shafimana Ueitele on 31ST August 2021 at 8H30,” a statement by Amupanda reads.
He also states that after this date it will be clearly be revealed as to how the case will proceed. Amupanda and “Fearless lawyer”, Kadhila Amoomo remains in high spirits and ready to fight for justice and constitutionalism, despite being stunned by the regime’s decision, particularly the alleged freedom fighters that chose monopoly capital over the masses of the people. He informed me this morning that this case, of the 1896 Red Line is being managed in the Social Justice and Public interest cluster at the Kadhila Amoomo Legal practitioners.”
Amupanda further notes that due to the strategic importance of the case, and in consultation with “fearless” lawyer, Amoomo, he will soon reveal the team that will deal with the logistics related to the case, ranging from community consultations, financial coordination, media and communication.
The AR activist adds that he remains firm and determined in ensuring that the 1896 Redline that discriminated against the masses of his people for 125 years, is brought to an end. “I therefore assure Namibians, particularly the affected communities from OPUWO to Katima Mulilo, from Omaalala to Ruacana, from Kabbe to Kaisosi, from Tsumkwe to Sesfontain and from Okangwati to Divundu and Bukalo – that freedom is coming, and we will put a brave fight characterized by tactical sophistication, superior logic, black liberation theology, theodicy and philosophy, affirmation of humanity and equality before the law humanity before profit and indeed 21st century constitutionalism, the 1896 will fall,” he reveals.
The Minister of Agriculture, Water and Land Reform, has been cited as first defendant, the Government of the Republic of Namibia as the second defendant, the Attorney General of the Republic of Namibia as the third defendant and Hango Nambinga N.O. as the fourth defendant.
The Redline was initiated in 1896 to act as a shield and to insulate people who reside south of the Redline and their livestock from perceived or actual diseases, which emanates from people who reside north of the red line and their livestock.
The legal action by Amupanda comes after Amupanda’s meat, valued at N$1000 was confiscated in May at the Oshivelo checkpoint while returning to Windhoek from the north of Namibia. “The Plaintiff is therefore aggrieved and is entitled to approach the honourable court in terms of Article 25 of the Namibian Constitution for an order declaring the conduct of the fourth defendant as unlawful and unconstitutional on the basis that same is not sanctioned by any law, and at the same time violates article 8 and 10 of the Namibian Constitution,” papers filed in the High Court by his lawyer, Kadhila Amoomo, read.
The legal action comes more than three years after President Hage Geingob had vowed to look into the removal of the VCF to increase beef production for export purposes, as currently cattle from the North are excluded for export.
This year communal farmers from the Kavango West region complained about the Redline that it deprives them opportunities to sell their livestock to other parts of the country.
