Erasmus Shalihaxwe

The Magistrate Commission said they have not received any report of magistrates who have turned to alcohol as a coping mechanism due to overwhelming and stressful working conditions they are subjected to by the government.
This comes after Affirmative Repositioning leader Job Amupanda, alleged that magistrates and prosecutors in Namibia are working under terrible conditions. With work piling up on them and the postponement of court cases becoming a norm, some of them have turned to alcohol as a coping mechanism, he believes. 
‘’We will take it up with the minister of Justice in parliament next week. Magistrates and prosecutors must unite, go on strike if that is what it takes. We support and stand with you,’’ said Amupanda.
He stated that magistrates across the country sometimes find themselves in long queues at public institutions like banks without bodyguards alongside people they had sent to jail. While politicians have arranged protections for themselves. ‘’People of Namibia, we support and stand in solidarity with magistrates who want to go on strike because of how their matters are handled by the regime. Those of you who do not know, magistrates working conditions are terrible. While politicians have arranged protections for themselves, magistrates often find themselves alone in long queues at banks and ATMs with individuals they have sent to prison,’’ said Amupanda on his social media platforms.
He added that magistrates are working on old computers and furniture that were bought before independence and the country has less than 300 magistrates who are tasked to serve over three million people. 
“For 10,000 Namibians, only one magistrate is available. It is the same and worse, for prosecutors. In fact, the prosecutors are fewer than magistrates. You can easily have 15,000 cases in one division handled by only five magistrates. It is terrible. Postponement of cases has become a coping mechanism,’’ he alluded.
Judicial Service Commission acting deputy director for public relations division Delila Salatiel, told this publication that they have not received any report of alcohol abuse or the use of alcohol as a coping mechanism from any magistrate, nor has there been talks of magistrates planning to go on strike.
She stated that mental health care is not specifically available to magistrates and prosecutors on a full time basis. However, medical aid is provided to all of them and the medical aid caters for consultations with medical professionals, including psychiatrists and psychologists, if so required. She added that at present, there is a total number of 94 Magistrates countrywide. While on the issue of protection, she confirmed that magistrates are not provided with bodyguards but the Namibian Police Force has a liaison officer to coordinate security services when it is required.