High treason accused remandedThe remaining eight of 12 accused in the second Caprivi treason trial were remanded to 27 October to afford them another opportunity to get legal representation.
The lawyer who was representing them, Norman Tjombe, last week withdrew from the trial on the instructions of the accused. Tjombe declined to explain the reason for the withdrawal, citing client/attorney privilege.
Judge Petrus Unengu informed the eight accused that he will give them another opportunity to obtain legal representation.
The eight accused were part of a group of twelve people deported from Botswana on allegations of attempting to secede the Zambezi Region from Namibia.
They are Progress Kenyoka Munuma, Shine Samulandela Samulandela, Manuel Manepelo Makendano, Alex Sinjabata Mushakwa, Diamond Samunzala Salufu, Hoster Simasiku Ntombo, Boster Mubuyaeta Samuele and John Mazila Tembwe.
They question the jurisdiction of the High Court in the case. They claim they were abducted from Botswana and brought to Namibia by officials of the Namibian government with the full knowledge and cooperation of the Botswana government.
They allege that they were illegally taken from the Dukwe Refugee Camp, where they were residing as asylum seekers, to Francistown Security Prison.
From there, they were transported to a centre for Illegal immigrants, also in Francistown, where they were allegedly detained unlawfully at the request of the Namibian authorities.
The Supreme Court recently dismissed their appeal against the High Court dismissal of their special plea.
Unengu postponed the matter to enable the accused persons to get legal aid and to set a trial date.
The judge also asked the suspects whether they were informed about the Supreme Court dismissal of their application.
FRED GOEIEMAN