The Republican Party (RP) has appealed to President Nangolo Mbumba to show mercy to the Caprivi secessionists, who are still imprisoned 25 years after a failed breakaway attempt in August 1999. 

"We would like to encourage President Mbumba to lead by letting his heart go out towards those who are in the twilight of their lives and who, with their families, have without any doubts suffered enough," said party president Henk Mudge.

The party was concerned about the suffering of the people, who were found guilty of secessionist crimes and who are still in prison to date.

132 people were arrested with charges ranging from high treason to murder and sedition, stemming from the Caprivi conflict between 1992 and 2002, and 79 were acquitted after having spent 16 years in prison.

Mudge said it was shocking that it took the court 16 years and hundreds of millions of dollars to find some of them innocent, and the question remains whether those who were released were properly compensated.

"I speak with a heavier heart than I had for twenty years. The state of the nation is not well. The matter of Caprivian political prisoners remains a dark and scratching scar on all Namibians who understand the history of our nation and the efforts various communities undertook to bring us where we are today. This is not the time to claim victories."