Authorities in Namibia have warned the public against holding parties at cemeteries after a social gathering at Gammams cemetery in Windhoek sparked widespread condemnation.
The event, which took place last weekend, featured seating arrangements, cooler boxes, and alcohol, according to officials from the City of Windhoek. Photos and eyewitness accounts described the cemetery as resembling a “shebeen rather than a place of rest.”
One resident who witnessed the scene said mourners were met with open car boots, loud music, and people drinking, adding that bottles and cans were left strewn across the grounds. “It was nothing short of disgraceful,” she wrote on Facebook.
In a statement, the City of Windhoek condemned the gathering as “unacceptable,” stressing that it disrespected the dignity of the dead and disturbed grieving families. The city also reminded residents that littering or leaving waste in cemeteries is a criminal offence, warning of stricter monitoring and enforcement.
“Cemeteries are sacred spaces reserved only for burials and remembrance of the deceased,” it said. “Social gatherings, alcohol consumption, and littering within cemetery grounds are strictly prohibited.”
This is not the first controversy at Gammams. In 2021, police arrested a man after footage showed him firing shots during a funeral, while other mourners were seen spinning cars in the nearby parking area.
