No arrests made in alleged assault of 31 boys by police at Otjiwarongo
via The Namibian1 min read
No arrests have been made in the case where nine police officers allegedly assaulted 31 boys from Karundu Secondary School in Otjiwarongo in February. The boys, aged 15 to 16, were reportedly involved in a missing cellphone incident during soccer training. School principal Jeanette Murorua stated that police visited the school on February 16. Three boys were seriously injured, with one sustaining a fractured skull, two suffering broken ribs, and another an ear injury. Otjozondjupa regional crime investigations coordinator deputy commissioner Edna Nawa said the investigation is concluded, and the docket will be sent to the prosecutor general's office to decide on prosecuting the involved officers. Nawa noted that an investigation began after a 19-year-old opened an assault case against the police, and an identification parade was held. No arrests were made initially as the suspects were unknown at that stage.
Free daily or weekly digest of the most important stories from across 18 African countries. No spam, unsubscribe any time.
This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by The Namibian.
Italian teenager Kimi Antonelli, driving for Mercedes, won the Belgian Grand Prix, extending his lead in the Formula One drivers’ championship. The 19-year-old finished 1.9 seconds ahead of Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc, with four-time champion Max Verstappen of Red Bull in third. Antonelli’s teammate George Russell crashed out on the opening lap after an incident with Hamilton. Hamilton, driving for Ferrari, finished fourth despite an incident during a pit-stop where he almost hit a mechanic, leading to a stewards’ investigation. Isack Hadjar of Red Bull finished sixth, just ahead of reigning world champion Lando Norris. This victory marks Antonelli’s sixth win and sixth pole position of the season, increasing his championship points to 204, 45 points clear of Hamilton, with Russell in third place with 154 points. The race saw multiple incidents, including a five-second penalty for Hamilton for his collision with Russell, and further investigations by the stewards regarding an unsafe release during a pit-stop.
Must ReadThe African Development Bank has announced a N$5.6 billion investment in Namibia's technical and vocational education and training TVET system and artificial intelligence. This funding aims to modernize vocational institutions, establish a National Artificial Intelligence Institute, and create 15,000 workplace opportunities for young people by 2030. While this is a positive development, there are calls for transparency and accountability, particularly regarding job creation. Concerns have been raised that the 15,000 jobs will be meaningless if private companies are not in a position to hire graduates, which is linked to the fair allocation of state tenders. The article also highlights the need for Information and Communication Technology Minister Emma Theofelus to accelerate the development of laws and regulations for artificial intelligence, noting that policy progress in this area has been slow.
Must ReadNamibia's Ministry of Industries, Mines and Energy has refuted claims that the country lost its bid to acquire a stake in De Beers, labeling circulating information as "misleading and incorrect." Mines minister Modestus Amutse stated that the government would release accurate information through official channels. This follows reports from Botswana's minister in the presidency, Moeti Mohwasa, who informed parliament that Anglo American had selected the Global Diamond Consortium as its preferred bidder for De Beers. Mohwasa mentioned the consortium proposed including Angola and Namibia in the deal, though members were not disclosed. Namibia had previously expressed interest in a De Beers stake after Anglo American decided to divest as part of its restructuring. The Namibian government believes ownership would enhance its position and influence in the global diamond value chain, crucial to its economy. Speculation about a UAE investor's involvement in the consortium has resurfaced, but Amutse previously denied any partnership with such an investor, cautioning against speculation during ongoing negotiations. A detailed update from the government is anticipated.