Authorities in Namibia have issued a stern warning against hosting social events at cemeteries after a recent gathering at Windhoek’s Gammams cemetery drew widespread condemnation.
The incident, which took place last weekend, sparked outrage after images and eyewitness accounts showed people drinking and partying inside the burial grounds.
City of Windhoek officials said the gathering had “seating arrangements, cooler boxes and alcohol” on display, creating a scene that many found deeply disrespectful. One resident who was at the cemetery described what she saw as “nothing short of disgraceful”.
In a Facebook post, she detailed how mourners arriving at the site were met with open car boots, loud drinking, and scenes that “resembled a shebeen rather than a place of rest”.
She added that the cemetery was left in a sorry state, with bottles and cans strewn across the grounds.
In a statement released on Thursday, the City of Windhoek condemned the incident, calling it “unacceptable” and stressing that such actions “disrespects the dignity of the deceased [and] disturbs other grieving families”.
The city reminded residents that leaving waste behind at burial sites is a criminal offence and announced plans for “strict monitoring and enforcement” to protect cemeteries.
“Cemeteries are sacred spaces reserved only for burials and remembrance of the deceased,” the statement said. “Social gatherings, alcohol consumption, and littering within cemetery grounds are strictly prohibited.”
Gammams cemetery has faced similar controversies in the past. In 2021, a man was arrested after a video showed him firing gunshots during a funeral at the same cemetery.
The incident also involved cars being spun in a parking area near the burial site, as reported by local media.