Zimbabwean-born journalist Tracy Tafirenyika attacked with xenophobic comments

Minister James Sankwasa made a xenophobic comment about Zimbabwean-born journalist Tracy Tafirenyika and her report in The Namibian newspaper about his unpaid water bills. In a video address on January 26, Sankwasa criticized Tafirenyika by name, accused a Zimbabwean-owned company of leaking information to her, and said she had “not appreciated that Namibia has allowed them (Zimbabweans) to stay here.” Tafirenyika told CPJ she subsequently received a wave of online abuse, reviewed by CPJ, including threats of physical harm. The journalist said she no longer felt safe leaving home and feared for her family. https://cpj.org/2026/02/namibian-journalist-shaken-by-arrest-threat-for-asking-the-president-a-question/