Africa-Press – Namibia. ZAMBIAN authorities have apologised to the Namibian government following clashes between their traders and members of the Namibian Police at the Katima Mulilo border on Tuesday.
It is alleged that the police during their patrols at the border encountered Zambian young people trading on the Namibian side and ordered them to return to their territory.
The traders, however, refused and the police started pushing them back, after which they retaliated and started throwing stones at the police. The incident was captured on a video circulating on social media as the altercation and tension between the two groups escalated.
Zambezi regional police commissioner Marius Katamila confirmed the incident, saying three Namibian police officers sustained minor injures and received treatment at the Katima Mulilo State Hospital on the same day.
Following the incident, a Zambian delegation, led by acting district police commissioner Albertina Kabatana, visited Zambezi governor Lawrence Sampofu’s office on Wednesday to render their apology.
“We are humbled to come and meet with you. We have really wronged you because of what happened on Tuesday. I wish that you find it in your heart to forgive us.
“We appreciate the good relationship between our countries, and wish to keep it that way,” Kabatana said. She then vowed that they would engage their youth to not repeat similar incidents.
Another Zambian official, Eddie Nalisa, commended the two Namibian police officers for keeping the highest form of professionalism, as they did not use their firearms – even though the traders were throwing stones at them.
“The behaviour of these two police officers is admirable. The youth throwing stones at armed, uniformed officers has been viewed as a sign of bravery, however, it is a sign of integrity on the part of the police officers, because we could have been having funerals today.
“If it was up to me, I would have promoted those two police officers,” he said. Sampofu then clarified there is no ‘no-man’s land’, saying the area where trucks are parking and vendors are trading is Namibian land.
“It is just that the border was built far from the borderline. Let us respect our colonial borders and not create animosity,” he said. According to Sampofu, people are trying to disturb the cordial relationship between the two countries.
“The bond that binds us is very strong. Therefore, as brothers and sisters, let’s put our heads together to ensure the incident does not repeat itself.”
Police commissioner Marius Katamila said Tuesday’s incident is not isolated, because truck drivers have also fallen victim to Zambian traders before. “They are being robbed of their spare tyres, batteries, and even threatened by these traders.
“Last year, we had an incident of the attempted armed robbery of a truck driver by the traders. Fortunately, he woke up while they were trying to break in and called for help,” Katamila said. He said the Namibian Police always ensure they chase traders back to Zambia in a peaceful manner, but they always return.
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