Africa-Press – Namibia. Landless People’s Movement (LPM) youth leader Duminga Ndala says the Society of Advocates of Namibia should not interfere in the political terrain as that is not within its mandate.
Ndala said this in response to a statement of the Society of Advocates of Namibia in which the lawyers’ body this week said it was considering lodging a complaint with the Law Society of Namibia to investigate the conduct of LPM leader Bernadus Swartbooi.
This is after Swartbooi, who is an admitted legal practitioner and a member of the law society, claimed in the National Assembly last week that only lawyers from law firms with political connections to Swapo are appointed as acting judges to Namibia’s upper courts.
The Judicial Service Commission, which recommends the appointment of judges to the president, rubbished Swartbooi’s claim as factually incorrect on Wednesday.
Ndala commented that the judiciary is not a special arm of government and can be criticised when a need arises.
“The law society has not even pronounced itself on some of the legal firms that are implicated in the Fishrot saga,” she remarked. “Nor has it called for some of these lawyers to be investigated.”
Ndala questioned who the Society of Advocates of Namibia represents and termed it an elite social club, vested with narrow interests to advance its well-being.
“We advise them to stay away from the political terrain and advocate on reforming colonial laws that continue to oppress our people,” Ndala said.
For More News And Analysis About Namibia Follow Africa-Press
