Oshana residents flock to Ombudsman office for free legal advice
Almost 200 residents of Oshakati and its surrounding areas arrived at the Office of the Ombudsman in Ongwediva last week Friday, hoping to consult a lawyer during the Free Legal Advice Day organised by the Law Society of Namibia in collaboration with the Office of the Ombudsman.
Free consultations were provided by members of the Law Society practising in the North, Law Society council members, and legal practitioners working for the Ombudsman. The Free Legal Advice Day coincided with a Far North Circle meeting of legal practitioners.
The demand for legal counselling was so high that some common complaints were addressed in groups after which individual questions were addressed. Another fourteen members of the public had to be deferred for later consultation provided by the Office of the Ombudsman.
Last week’s event was the second this year, the first having taken place in Mariental earlier in June. For the rest of this year, the Law Society will organise Free Legal Advice Days on 04 August in Windhoek, 18 August in Swakopmund, 22 September in Tsumeb and 13 October in Gobabis.
Following the very successful Oshakati Free Legal Advice Day, the Law Society said this service is part of its objective to make legal services more accessible to those members of the public who find it hard to afford consultations by legal practitioners.
In Ongwediva, legal advice was given on topics such as labour, domestic violence, wills & estates, divorce and maintenance. Due to the large number of persons in need of legal advice, the consultation hours were extended to help as many people as possible.
The day was opened by Ms. Anne-Doris Hans-Kaumbi, a Law Society Councillor with additional remarks by the Hon Clemens Kashuupulwa, the Oshana Governor, Hon Jason Asino, the Deputy Mayor of Ongwediva, Ms. Eileen Rakow of the Office of the Ombudsman, and by the Mayor of Oshakati, His Worship Iyambo.
In the picture, in the front row from the left: Saima Nambinga (Councillor: LSN & Angula Co. Inc.), Simson Aingura (Aingura Attorneys), Veronika Hanongo-Haikali (Dr. Weder, Kauta & Hoveka Inc.), Retha Steinmann (Director: LSN), Anne-Doris Hans-Kaumbi (Councillor: LSN & Ueitele & Hans Inc).
In the back row, from the left: Jo-mari Koekemoer (Manager Professional Affairs, LSN), Charmaine Tjihero (Dr. Weder, Kauta & Hoveka Inc.), Etegamero Indongo-Antindi (Nored Electricity (Pty) Ltd), Grace Mugaviri (Mugaviri Attorneys), Japhet Gottlieb (Candidate Legal Practitioner: Mugaviri Attorneys), Melvin Nyambe (Shikongo Law Chambers), Mekumbu Tjiteere (Dr Weder, Kauta & Hoveka Inc.), Theodore Tsamaseb (Candidate Legal Practitioner: Ainguira Attorneys).
Not present when the photograph was taken were Jan Greyling Jnr. (Greyling & Associates) and Tulonga-Ria Shapumba (Oshakati High Court).
