Africa-Press – Namibia. FORMER divisional magistrate and one of Namibia’s first post-independence magistrates, Lazarus Amutse, has died.
Amutse, who was 59, died on Saturday following a short illness. Amutse was responsible for magistrate’s courts in the Omusati, Oshana, Oshikoto, Kunene and Ohangwena regions from 2007 until his retirement in 2020.
In his eulogy read by his brother Modestus at his memorial service underway at Onoolongo village near Oshikuku in Omusati region, Modestus said that Amutse served as principal magistrate for the Tsumeb, Walvis Bay, Ondangwa and Outapi Magistrate’s Courts in the 1990s.
He also served as legal advisor for the Uukwambi Traditional Authority. Referring to him as “Koffi”, Modestus described his brother as a quiet person and a good advisor.
His friend Chief Justice Peter Shivute said Amutse did a commendable job during his tenure as magistrate. He said when he, Amutse and other black magistrates started their career in independent Namibia, they were targeted and not wanted by white magistrates.
“When we made mistakes, the mistakes would be published on the front pages of certain newspapers that said we were not properly trained,” Shivute said. Amutse will be laid to rest at Oshikuku cemetery on Saturday. He is survived by his wife Sara and eight children.
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