Builders found not guilty

TWO former executive members of the Namibia National Construction Association (Nanca) were acquitted on a charge of assault by threat in the Oshakati Magistrate Court yesterday.

Magistrate Thomas Kanime ruled that the court could find no grounds on which to find them guilty of the charge. Erastus Shatimwene and Thomas Moses were arrested on June 21 2005.The complainant in the case, Simeon Shikulo, laid charges against them after they allegedly threatened to kill members of the Nanca Executive Committee.Shatimwene, Moses and nine other members had been suspended from Nanca in November 2004, allegedly because they wanted to overthrow the Nanca Executive Committee.Shikulu told the court that he encountered Shatimwene, Moses and businessman Erastus Mvula at the Game Shopping Centre on June 15 2005.During this conversation, Shikulu claimed, Moses and Shatimwene threatened to kill the executive members who had suspended them.In court, Shatimwene and Moses denied having made any threatening statements.Defence witness Erastus Mvula corroborated this, saying they had only discussed Nanca financial affairs.In his judgement, Magistrate Kanime said that the State had failed to prove beyond reasonable doubt that there had been a real threat against the complainant, Shikulo, and other mentioned Nanca executive members.Erastus Shatimwene and Thomas Moses were arrested on June 21 2005.The complainant in the case, Simeon Shikulo, laid charges against them after they allegedly threatened to kill members of the Nanca Executive Committee.Shatimwene, Moses and nine other members had been suspended from Nanca in November 2004, allegedly because they wanted to overthrow the Nanca Executive Committee.Shikulu told the court that he encountered Shatimwene, Moses and businessman Erastus Mvula at the Game Shopping Centre on June 15 2005.During this conversation, Shikulu claimed, Moses and Shatimwene threatened to kill the executive members who had suspended them.In court, Shatimwene and Moses denied having made any threatening statements.Defence witness Erastus Mvula corroborated this, saying they had only discussed Nanca financial affairs.In his judgement, Magistrate Kanime said that the State had failed to prove beyond reasonable doubt that there had been a real threat against the complainant, Shikulo, and other mentioned Nanca executive members.