Police explains Bwabwata shooting

A police report submitted this week denies unlawful shooting on a group of San harvesters of devil’s claw in the Bwabwata National Park on Sunday. Police spokesperson Deputy Commissioner Edwin Kanguatjivi yesterday said members of the anti-poaching unit of Operation Elephant Tusk were in pursuit of suspected poachers after they have detected fresh footprints in the park.The report stated that a warning shot was fired but the group of harvesters took flight when they saw the camouflaged officers. Kanguatjivi could, however, not say how many subsequent shots were fired on the scampering group but said an internal investigation was launched to determine if the police officers have acted according to orders issued to them. Witness reports gathered by, among others, the San community activist and member of the Namibia San Council, Davis Mushavanga, are diametrically opposed to that of the police officers. According to Mushavanga the group had phoned the conservation office through the clinic at Chetto to report unknown footprints on Friday, 1 July, when they first went into the bush near the settlement to dig for the seasonal devil’s claw for which they had permits for. He said the group in vain waited the next day for a response and on Sunday the camouflaged police “unknowingly emerged” and shot at their camp without any warning shot. Mushavanga said the group reported “uncountable” shots fired at them from a considerable distance of about 20 to 30 metres away. He said the group claimed that one of the police officers “boasted” that “even if they shoot Bushmen it does not matter”. John Johannes who was shot in both legs has since been released from the Andara State Hospital and returned to his village. His family, however, wants him readmitted because he is complaining of severe pain, said Mushavanga. Mushavanga had made a plea for assistance in a possible legal challenge against the police shooting. Peter Watson of the Legal Assistance Centre (LAC) yesterday said although the organisation has not received any instruction to represent Johannes, it would be prepared to act on his behalf and is currently looking into the matter. CATHERINE SASMAN

Police explains Bwabwata shooting

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Namibian Sun 2025-04-30

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Police explains Bwabwata shooting

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Namibian Sun 2025-04-30

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