City Police Chief Abraham Kanime confirmed the attack yesterday, saying the residents became violent towards the police who were demolishing an illegal shack in the area.
“The members of the community started throwing stones. We first tried to stop them by talking to them, but when it got worse we fired warning shots. No one was injured although they say we shot someone, which is not true,” Kanime said.
He said five people were arrested and are being charged for obstructing the police from carrying out their duties, instigating others to become violent, and damaging government property.
The police chief warned members of the community not to occupy land without council permission. He also called on citizens to report illegal structures.
A resident, who asked not to be named, condemned the demolition of the shack saying it was meant to be a shop since they do not have any shops nearby.
“In this area, we need a shop as most of the shops are very far. That is why we got angry and started attacking the police,” the resident said.
The last time members of the public fought the police was two years ago when some taxi drivers on strike engaged in running battles with City Police in Windhoek.
Windhoek City Police officers assigned to go and demolish a new shack in Goreangab yesterday were attacked with bottles and rocks by a mob.
The riotious mob of over a hundred were angered by the fact that the police were demolishing a shack shebeen. In return the police, who initially ran for cover from the hail of flying bottles and rocks, fired tear-gas into the air to disperse the unruly mob. But the mob remained defiant and continued to throwing every conceivable missile they could lay their hands on at the police even after tear-gas was fired by the police. Police vehicles were also damaged during the riot as car windows were smashed with stones and both the police and journalists had to shield themselves behind their vehicles to dodge the fussilade of missiles.
Three of the protesters were arrested. Residents complained they needed land, but the government is not responding to their plight, but instead offers land to foreigners. “They gave land to the Chinese to do business in the area, they even have a farm here where they keep pigs and they have gardens there, but why can’t they give us land?
They bring their tent here wanting us to register to vote instead of bringing services to us, what are we going to vote for?” complained one resident. They further said they work extremely hard to build shacks for their children. “We can’t afford to buy houses, this is the only way to put a roof over our children’s heads and the City Police come and destroy it and when our children come home from school the house is not there,” said another. “Where are we going to live if they are not giving us free land to live?” queried another. New Era tried to get comment from the City of Windhoek’s public relations division, but no one was available to answer questions. However, one police officer said they will continue demolishing illegal shacks and they will not be intimidated in the execution of their duties.
No comments:
Post a Comment