Michael Amushelelo, a prominent politician with the Namibia Economic Freedom Fighters (NEFF), made a dramatic protest at the Ministry of Labour, Industrial Relations & Employment Creation in Windhoek. He threatened to set himself on fire as a "sacrifice" to draw attention to what he describes as hazardous working conditions faced by Namibian employees, particularly those working for certain foreign-owned companies.
The protest follows the recent deaths of three employees working for Chinese companies, who allegedly lost their lives due to unsafe working conditions. Amushelelo, who has been vocal about labor rights, burned tires outside the ministry's offices as an outcry for immediate government action on safety regulations.
"Since when did it become a death sentence in this country to put food on the table through hard work?" he questioned in a statement, calling on the ministry to strengthen health and safety standards for all workers.
During a live video on Facebook, Amushelelo, visibly emotional, poured a container of water on himself after igniting the tire fire. Holding a match, he said his willingness to sacrifice himself for the cause, before taking to his knees in what he referred to as a "last salute."
His actions have sparked a strong public response, with many calling for reforms to improve working conditions, while others are expressing concern over his methods. The Ministry of Labour has yet to issue a response to the incident.