Staff Reporter
DELAYED court cases, a shortage of magistrates, trial-awaiting inmates’ inability to afford bail, and limited access to legal aid are some of the factors that have led to the current overcrowding in police cells countrywide, placing a serious strain on the Namibian police.
Newly released statistics revealed that the police holding cells at Eenhana in the Ohangwena Region are the most overcrowded. Built to accommodate only 60 inmates, the Eenhana cells currently hold 270 trial-awaiting persons.
The Katima Mulilo police cells are equally overcrowded, with 262 inmates, far surpassing their carrying capacity of 60 people.
Other overcrowded police holding cells include Windhoek and Otjomuise, with a carrying capacity of 120 each but currently holding 145 and 137 inmates respectively.
The Mariental, Keetmanshoop, and Gobabis police cells were built to accommodate 60 inmates each but are currently accommodating 90, 78, and 224 trial-awaiting inmates respectively.
There are currently 177 inmates in the Tsumeb police cells, which were meant to accommodate only 100 inmates.
The Oshikango and Nkurenkuru police cells have space for only 70 inmates each but currently hold 200 and 207 respectively.
There are 249 inmates in the Rundu police cells compared to their carrying capacity of 100. Oshakati police cells are holding 224 people, far surpassing their capacity of 130 inmates.
The police cells at Ondangwa and Outapi are equally overcrowded, holding 172 and 190 inmates respectively, surpassing their capacity of 60 inmates each.
Meanwhile, magistrates this morning staged a strike demanding better wages and benefits and highlighting the current shortage of magistrates, which directly contributes to delays in the handling of court cases, resulting in overcrowded police holding cells.
Picture for illustrative purposes only. Photo: AfricaFeeds
