A N$6,8 million lawsuit hovers over the Namibian Police Force after lawyer Norman Tjombe took on a civil matter in which he is suing the Ministry of Home Affairs, Immigration, Safety and Security. The matter relates to the killing of a taxi driver Lebeus Wambili, who was shot and killed by a member of NamPol on 4 August 2021 at the Onamhinda village near Oshikango in the Ohangwena Region.
The deceased and his fiance Ndilimeke Mwalengelewange were reportedly stopped by officers who were patrolling the area, after which shots were fired at the car, and Wambili was hit fatally. His fiance Ndilimeke Mwalengelewange was also hit and suffered severe injuries on her body, including two gunshot wounds on her back, fractured ribs, loss of blood, severe pain and trauma.
She still has the bullets locked in her back. At the time of the incident, the police’s national spokesperson Deputy Commissioner Kauna Shikwambi described the events as ‘unfortunate’, saying the deceased was found to have been smuggling boxes of chicken from Angola. Tjombe, in court papers, argues that the police acted unlawfully when they wrongfully shot and killed Wambili.
The deceased was the only provider to two of his biological daughters and grandmother. For the two daughters and grandmother Tjombe is demanding a sum of N$600 000 each.
The lawyer is also suing on behalf of 12 other family members who were under the care of Wambili before he died. The matter will be heard by High Court Judge Collins Parker on 21 September 2022. State lawyer Jabulani Ncube is representing NamPol and the Security Ministry.