Customize Consent Preferences

We use cookies to help you navigate efficiently and perform certain functions. You will find detailed information about all cookies under each consent category below.

The cookies that are categorized as "Necessary" are stored on your browser as they are essential for enabling the basic functionalities of the site. ... 

Always Active

Necessary cookies are required to enable the basic features of this site, such as providing secure log-in or adjusting your consent preferences. These cookies do not store any personally identifiable data.

No cookies to display.

Functional cookies help perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collecting feedback, and other third-party features.

No cookies to display.

Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics such as the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.

No cookies to display.

Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.

No cookies to display.

Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with customized advertisements based on the pages you visited previously and to analyze the effectiveness of the ad campaigns.

No cookies to display.

Banner Left
Banner Right

Confusion over captive

Confusion over captive

Police and human rights activists have given conflicting versions about the continued detention of a 32-year-old man who has languished in the Eenhana Police cells for the last five months.

The National Society for Human Rights (NSHR) claims that Elifas Kandjambanga has been held “without court appearance since he was arrested on October 17 on charges of housebreaking”. But NamPol spokesperson Deputy Commissioner Hophni Hamufungu retorted that “the man” was a suspect in a stock theft case and had been “dodging” the Police since 1996.”He has been on the run, he has been running away from the law for a long time,” Hamufungu pointed out.He said that Kandjambanga was first arrested by Police at Okongo in 1996 on suspicion that he stole over 30 head of cattle, “but when he got bail he absconded and just disappeared”.He was re-arrested late last year at Dama Township on the outskirts of Rundu.Since then, according to Hamufungu, he had appeared in court five times.Quoting Kandjambanga’s common-law wife and Police sources at Eenhana, the rights organisation maintained that Kandjambanga had never been brought before a court of law.His first court appearance was scheduled for Thursday, according to an NSHR press statement.In terms of Article 11 (3) of the Namibian Constitution, all persons arrested and held in custody must be brought before the nearest magistrate within a period of 48 hours of their arrest.When The Namibian put it to the NSHR that the Police had disputed its claims, the organisation said it had already taken the matter up with the Inspector General of the Police, Lt General Lucas Hangula.”We are still waiting for a full report from the Inspector General… we want to know from him the exact whereabouts of Kandjambanga, if he has appeared in court already and on what charges,” the NSHR’s Dorkas Nangolo-Phillemon said.But NamPol spokesperson Deputy Commissioner Hophni Hamufungu retorted that “the man” was a suspect in a stock theft case and had been “dodging” the Police since 1996. “He has been on the run, he has been running away from the law for a long time,” Hamufungu pointed out. He said that Kandjambanga was first arrested by Police at Okongo in 1996 on suspicion that he stole over 30 head of cattle, “but when he got bail he absconded and just disappeared”. He was re-arrested late last year at Dama Township on the outskirts of Rundu. Since then, according to Hamufungu, he had appeared in court five times. Quoting Kandjambanga’s common-law wife and Police sources at Eenhana, the rights organisation maintained that Kandjambanga had never been brought before a court of law. His first court appearance was scheduled for Thursday, according to an NSHR press statement. In terms of Article 11 (3) of the Namibian Constitution, all persons arrested and held in custody must be brought before the nearest magistrate within a period of 48 hours of their arrest. When The Namibian put it to the NSHR that the Police had disputed its claims, the organisation said it had already taken the matter up with the Inspector General of the Police, Lt General Lucas Hangula. “We are still waiting for a full report from the Inspector General… we want to know from him the exact whereabouts of Kandjambanga, if he has appeared in court already and on what charges,” the NSHR’s Dorkas Nangolo-Phillemon said.

Stay informed with The Namibian – your source for credible journalism. Get in-depth reporting and opinions for only N$85 a month. Invest in journalism, invest in democracy –
Subscribe Now!

Latest News