Patience Makwele
As Namibia marks 36 years of independence, the meaning of freedom remains uncertain for some, especially those leaving prison and trying to rebuild their lives.
For Haufiku Johannes, freedom began the day he walked out of prison after serving three years for robbery and firearm possession.
He expected a new start. Instead, he faced rejection.
“The biggest thought on my mind when I left was, where do I even start?” Haufiku said.
“My family had stopped visiting years ago, and suddenly I was out in the world with nothing but a bag and N$200. No homecoming, no job, no support, just rejection waiting at every corner.”
He said life in prison followed a routine. Outside, he found that people judged him by his past.
“Even though I came out a changed man, I am still seen as a dangerous criminal. Employers shake their heads at my applications. Old neighbours whisper behind my back. It feels like the world moved on without me,” he expressed.
His experience reflects a wider pattern.
Many former inmates leave prison but struggle to find work, housing and support.
Namibian Correctional Service (NCS) commissioner general Raphael Hamunyela said reintegration remains a challenge.
“Our biggest challenge is resources. We want to give ex-inmates opportunities, but without halfway houses, vocational support, and strong partnerships, reintegration is limited. Unemployment is already high in Namibia, and for someone with a criminal record, the barriers are even greater,” said Hamunyela.
Hamunyela said communities must play a role in helping former inmates.
“We cannot do this alone. Communities need to guide and support former inmates so that freedom doesn’t end at the prison gate,” he said.
A social worker said rejection often pushes former inmates back into crime.
“Our prisons may release people, but society still keeps them locked up. Without psychosocial support and jobs, many find themselves returning to crime because there is no alternative.”
Some have managed to rebuild their lives.
A former inmate from the Zambezi region now runs a community project. He said support from others helped him start again.
“Society must realise that people can change if you give them a chance,” he said.
As Independence Day approaches, Haufiku said freedom is still something he is working toward.
“I paid for my mistakes. But society’s rejection keeps me locked in. True freedom, for me, is still out of reach,” he said.
He said his experience carries a message for young people.
“Our country is turning 36-years-old and in those 36 years, I lost my two years to crime and three years behind bars, but coming out of prison has made me realise just how big of a privilege it is to live in a country where there is no war.”
