Renthia Kaimbi
Organised gangs operating freely inside correctional facilities are instilling a culture of fear and violence, a parliamentary investigation has found.
The report by the standing committee on home affairs, security, and constitutional and legal affairs revealed that gangs, such as the notorious ‘Gang 28’, known for their violent and sodomy-related practices, operate with impunity.
The gang’s presence highlights the vulnerability of LGBTQI inmates and the state’s struggle to protect them.
The findings come from the committee’s oversight visits between January and March 2025.
The investigation found that gangs operating in correctional facilities and police cells recruit new members who must commit crimes to join or move up in rank.
Other major gangs, such as Gang 26, which deals in contraband smuggling, and Gang 27, known for violent clashes, contribute to an atmosphere of fear that threatens inmate safety and rehabilitation.
Committee chairperson Phillemon Ndjambula signed the report, which also noted that a commissioner general directive was issued to guide the management of LGBTQI inmates.
The directive recognises the urgent need to separate them from the general prison population to prevent abuse.
The committee’s findings also expose serious overcrowding and poor conditions in police cells across the country.
Facilities in Eenhana, Gobabis and Katima Mulilo are housing up to four times their intended capacity.
The committee also found that cells are in poor condition, with stagnant water, broken toilets and no privacy.
The committee said that some buildings, which date back to 1922, are severely run down and unfit for human use.
The report also found that healthcare services in correctional facilities are failing. Many clinics have no medicine in stock because they are not formally registered with the Ministry of Health and Social Services.
Despite these serious problems, the committee acknowledged some positive progress.
It said the Namibia Correctional Services (NCS) has made strides toward reform by aligning its operations with international standards.
They praised the NCS’s agricultural programme, which has made the system largely self-sustaining.
“The Ministry has become self-sustaining when it comes to adhering to the dietary requirements of the inmates,” the report noted.
The programme produces maize, wheat, beef, and fresh vegetables that feed inmates and supply other government institutions.
Rehabilitation efforts have also shown progress.
The NCS workshop in Windhoek is now a fully accredited vocational training centre, offering courses in welding, motor mechanics, and tailoring.
The report stated that educational programmes are crucial in improving inmates’ literacy and vocational skills. Prisoners said the training helped uplift them and gave them hope for life after release.
The committee called for urgent action to address the crisis in prisons. It recommended the construction of new facilities and remand centres, the installation of CCTV systems and a clear plan to dismantle gang networks that continue to threaten safety and reform in the correctional system.
