Judicial Service Commission — Namibian body that appoints judges and prosecutors, handles recruitment for High Court positions and prosecutor general role.
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August 2026
Informanté
Judicial Service Commissionwas called on by AR to providepublic explanation regarding Damaseb's nomination
Source
“AR has called on the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) to provide a public explanation regarding the legal and ethical considerations behind Damaseb's nomination.”
The Judicial Service Commissionannouncedthat Damaseb was nominated and considered suitable for the role
Source
“The Judicial Service Commission (JSC) announced that chief justice Peter Shivute made the nomination following a request from the Tanzanian authorities for Namibia to provide a serving or retired High Court judge to serve on the commission.”
Judicial Service Commissionannounced that search for successor to Martha Imalwa would start afresh after all previous eight shortlisted candidates failedthe written assessment
Source
“This week the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) announced the search for Imalwa's successor would start afresh after all previous eight shortlisted candidates failed the written assessment, with the highest score being 49%.”
Judicial Service Commissionannouncedit will restart recruitment process for substantive prosecutor general
Source
“This comes amid the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) this week announcing it will restart the recruitment process for a substantive prosecutor general (PG) after none of the eight shortlisted candidates met the required standard in a written assessment.”
The Judicial Service Commission (JSC)has initiatedthe recruitment process for Prosecutor-General
Source
“It is encouraging that the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) has already initiated the recruitment process and that reports indicate the field of candidates includes highly experienced legal practitioners.”
The Judicial Service Commission (JSC)revealed that the highest score among applicants was49% out of 100 marks, with lowest at 30%
Source
“In a statement issued on Tuesday, the Commission revealed that the highest score among the applicants was just 49%, with the lowest at 30% out of a possible 100 marks.”
The JSCresolved not to advanceany of the eight candidates to the public interview stage
Source
“The JSC said it had resolved not to advance any of the eight candidates to the public interview stage, concluding that the results did not demonstrate the requisite standard of legal knowledge and competence.”
Judicial Service Commissionannouncedappointment of Justice Dr Michael Charles Mtambo as Acting Judge of High Court for three years, effective 1 June 2026
Source
“THE Judicial Service Commission has announced the appointment of Justice Dr Michael Charles Mtambo as an Acting Judge of the High Court for a period of three years, effective from 1 June 2026.”
Political parties have called on deputy chief justice and judge president Petrus Damaseb to reject his nomination to serve on Tanzania's post-election violence commission of inquiry. Job Amupanda and the Independent Patriots for Change cite concerns over the process, Namibia's silence on alleged human rights abuses, and international criticism of previous Tanzanian inquiries, arguing that Damaseb's participation could lend credibility to a commission of uncertain independence.
Political parties have called on deputy chief justice and judge president Petrus Damaseb to reject his nomination to serve on Tanzania's post-election violence commission of inquiry. Job Amupanda and the Independent Patriots for Change cite concerns over the process, Namibia's silence on alleged human rights abuses, and international criticism of previous Tanzanian inquiries, arguing that Damaseb's participation could lend credibility to a commission of uncertain independence.
The Affirmative Repositioning movement has criticised the Namibian government's decision to nominate Judge President and Deputy Chief Justice Petrus Damaseb to serve on a Tanzanian Presidential Commission of Inquiry into violence following Tanzania's October 2025 general election. AR accuses the authorities of compromising judicial independence and enabling a political whitewash of alleged human rights abuses.
Opposition parties AR and IPC have accused the Namibian government of compromising judicial independence by nominating deputy chief justice Petrus Damaseb to serve on a Tanzanian Presidential Commission of Inquiry investigating post-election violence. AR contends the nomination was a political act facilitated through government channels rather than proper judicial cooperation.
Namibia's Deputy Chief Justice Petrus Damaseb has been nominated to serve on a Tanzanian presidential commission of inquiry investigating violence that followed Tanzania's October 2025 general elections, following a request from Tanzanian authorities for a Namibian High Court judge to join the commission.
Petrus Damaseb, Namibia's deputy chief justice, has been nominated to serve on a Tanzanian presidential commission of inquiry investigating post-election violence following Tanzania's 2025 general elections. The Judicial Service Commission said Damaseb's judicial and administrative experience made him suitable for the sensitive role, and arrangements will be made to ensure his Namibian judicial duties continue without disruption.
Medical doctor Dennis Noa, arrested in connection with the alleged rape of a 26-year-old man at a public hospital premises, asked the Ondangwa Magistrate's Court to grant him bail so he can return to his duties. The state opposed bail, citing rape as a serious offence and arguing that release could risk witness interference, further offences, or absconding.
An opinion piece critiques the Judicial Service Commission's process for appointing a prosecutor general, noting that all eight candidates failed the examination and raising concerns about the selection process's credibility, the justice system's slowness, and the need for candidates with management skills and demonstrated impartiality.
The Namibian editorial argues that senior officials—advisers, executive directors, chief executives and civil servants—have a duty to speak truth to power and not remain silent to stay close to authority, citing the upcoming transitions of the prosecutor general and Anti-Corruption Commission director general.
Martha Imalwa, the acting prosecutor general, says she is looking forward to leaving office at the end of the year. The Judicial Service Commission has restarted recruitment for a substantive prosecutor general after none of the eight shortlisted candidates met the required standard in a written assessment.
An editorial argues that the recruitment of Namibia's next Prosecutor-General following Advocate Martha Imalwa's departure at year-end is a test of the country's commitment to transparency and the rule of law, and that the Judicial Service Commission must complete the process in a timely and professional manner.
The Judicial Service Commission has abandoned its shortlisted candidates for Prosecutor-General after all eight failed a written assessment designed to test legal knowledge and analytical ability; the highest score was 49%, below the required 50% pass mark.
The Judicial Service Commission found that none of the eight shortlisted candidates for prosecutor general met the required standard in a written assessment, forcing the commission to restart the recruitment process. The candidates achieved scores between 30% and 49%, failing to demonstrate the level of legal knowledge and competency expected for the position.
The Judicial Service Commission has appointed Justice Dr Michael Charles Mtambo as an Acting Judge of the High Court for three years, effective from 1 June 2026. Dr Mtambo previously served as a Judge of the High Court of Malawi from 2007 to 2022, sitting in both the Commercial Division and the Constitutional Court.
Five legal professionals have been shortlisted for the position of prosecutor general as incumbent Martha Imalwa's tenure ends. The candidates include former deputy prosecutor general Taswald July, former prosecutor Salomon Kanyemba, chief prosecutor Lucious Matota, and deputy prosecutors general Henry Muhongo and Ruben Shileka.
Gladice Pickering was sworn in as an Acting Judge of the High Court on Monday, serving from 16 March to 30 June 2026. Her appointment requires temporary replacement in her role as executive director at the Office of the Prime Minister, with Shivute Indongo taking over the position.
The Judicial Service Commission says it has appointed three judges from southern African countries to Namibia's High Court on fixed-term contracts to address a shortage of civil judges caused by retirements and the reluctance of senior legal practitioners to accept permanent positions. The commission states the measure is temporary while it develops domestic solutions, including a training programme for aspirant judges.
The Judicial Service Commission has decided to hire a limited number of foreign judges on fixed-term contracts to serve in the High Court's civil stream to reduce case backlogs. The Commission said the move became necessary because domestic candidates, particularly magistrates, lack the specialised expertise in civil law required for complex civil cases, and senior legal practitioners have been reluctant to accept permanent judicial positions.
The Office of the Judiciary has appointed five judges to the High Court, including three from other southern African countries on temporary contracts to address capacity constraints in the civil stream. The appointments are part of a temporary measure while longer-term domestic solutions are pursued.
Chief Justice Peter Shivute reported that average caseloads per civil judge jumped nearly 60% between 2024 and 2025 as judicial vacancies mounted, while Magistrates' Courts backlogs grew 11.5% to over 63,000 cases. The judiciary is exploring recruitment from SADC countries to address critical staffing gaps.
Namibia's Constitution and legislation establish multiple safeguards for judicial independence, including direct budget allocation to the judiciary, qualification requirements for judges, appointment through the Judicial Service Commission, removal protections, and ethical guidelines that prevent conflicts of interest and political interference.