The family of the late Mathew “Shippi” Shipanga, who was shot and killed by members of the Namibian police (Nampol)  last year, have set in motion plans to sue Nampol due to the authorities’ failure to finalise his  inquest a year after the horrific incident.

A family member who spoke to Informanté confirmed that Shipanga’s elderly mother and children, with the assistance of human rights lawyer, Norman Tjombe, are in the process of suing Nampol and the Ministry of Safety and Security for an unspecified amount for the loss of income they suffered since the cold-blooded killing of Shipanga by the police in the early hours of Sunday 7 February 2011.
Tjombe confirmed the litigation against Nampol and its line ministry, but could not divulge the exact amount the family is demanding from the respondents. “We are currently waiting on an actuary to determine the amount the family can sue for,” Tjombe says. According to him, the family’s case is likely to be heard in the High Court in November this year or latest during the first half of 2013.
Though the police remain mum on the events that led to the fatal shooting, initial police reports alleged that Shipanga jumped a temporary police road block between Rocky Crest and Otjimuise before he was summarily shot in the back by police.
It was reported last year that the former National Theatre of Namibia (NTN) employee had been drinking with friends and fled from the scene because he was afraid of being detained for drinking and driving.
Amongst the concerns that were expected to be clarified by the anticipated inquest is the allegation of a cover-up on the part of the police regarding the type of weapon fired at Shipanga. A family member was quoted in a local daily at the time, claiming that the police must have used an AK 47 rifle, because the bullet went through the boot of the vehicle, before hitting Shipanga in the chest and killing him.
Informanté reported last year that a close examination of the car seat showed a clear hole on the rear end through which the bullet that struck him in the back entered, and had another clear bullet hole in front. A well-placed source was quoted as saying that the window was broken by paramedics, who were called to the scene that Sunday morning. However the autopsy report showed that “Shipi” was shot in the back and on the right-side of his chest. A family member told Informanté then, that he was shot in the chest at point-blank range through an open front-right window”. Although the officer responsible for shooting Shipanga is yet to be brought to book, a case was opened and an investigation is said to have been carried out internally, to date the findings of the said investigation have not been made available to the deceased’s family, fiancée or the general public. Dave Kamulu, a cousin to the deceased and owner of the vehicle in which Shipanga was shot, told Informanté that he has found it difficult to have the bullet holes on his vehicle repaired by the police. “They police told me to claim from the Prosecutor General’s office, but I was informed to wait for the investigations to be finalised before I can be compensated,” says Kamulu. 
Chief Inspector De Klerk of the Khomas Regional Crime Division said the investigations are already at an advanced stage. “We are only awaiting the forensic report to be finalised before the docket is sent to the Prosecutor General’s Office for a decision,” De Klerk advised.