The chairman of the Namibian Lives Matter Movement (NLMM), Sinvula Mudabeti, has called for members of the anti-poaching unit in the Zambezi region to be charged with malicious damage to property.
Mudabeti also denounces the alleged harassment of three fishermen and damage to their property in the Lyanshulu area by anti-poaching unit officers.
The members of the anti-poaching unit allegedly shot at their canoes and confiscated their fish, both dry and fresh, despite the three having been issued fishing permits.
Speaking to The Namibian, Mudabeti describes the incident as a violation of the fishermen’s rights.
“Fishing is a means of livelihood which has sent many people to school, and cannot be stopped by gun-wielding officers who are either ignorant of interpreting the law, or are applying the law selectively.
“We do not support the overuse of our resources, such as fishing, without permits and using expired permits, but we also do not condone the abuse of power by security agencies that are trained to operate with fairness and sound judgement.
“Consequently, we caution the anti-poaching unit to desist from abuse of their powers against innocent and hardworking fishermen,” he says.