Namibia Sends Senior Judge to Join Tanzania’s Election Violence Commission

Namibia’s Chief Justice Peter S. Shivute has appointed the country’s Deputy Chief Justice, Justice Petrus T. Damaseb, to serve as a commissioner on Tanzania‘s Criminal Commission of Inquiry established to investigate alleged criminal offences linked to the country’s October 29, 2025 General Election.

According to a statement issued by the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) of Namibia on August 5, the appointment followed a formal request from the Tanzanian government seeking the nomination of a serving or retired judge from Namibia’s Supreme Court to participate in the commission.

The JSC said it unanimously supported Justice Damaseb’s nomination after determining that the sensitive and potentially complex nature of the inquiry required a senior judicial figure with extensive legal and administrative experience.

Justice Damaseb currently serves as Deputy Chief Justice of Namibia and President of the Supreme Court of Namibia. By virtue of his office, he is also an ex officio member of the country’s Constitutional Court.

Tanzania’s Criminal Commission of Inquiry was established on May 18, 2026, by President Samia Suluhu Hassan following recommendations contained in the report of an earlier commission led by former Chief Justice Mohamed Othman Chande, which investigated the events surrounding the October 29, 2025 General Election.

On July 30, President Samia announced that the criminal inquiry commission would be sworn in on a date to be announced later.

The commission will be chaired by Justice Lila, a Court of Appeal judge, and will also include retired judges Gad Mjemmas, Awadh Bawazir, Aishieli Sumari, and now Namibia’s Justice Petrus Damaseb.

The appointment of a senior foreign judge is expected to add an international dimension to the commission’s work as it investigates alleged criminal conduct arising from one of Tanzania’s most closely scrutinized elections in recent history.