Caprivi extradition case underway in Botswana

An extradition hearing to determine whether 13 alleged secessionists are to be sent back to Namibia to stand trial for high treason and other alleged crimes finally got under way in Gaborone this week after eight previous false starts, the ‘Namibian’ reported. Botswana’s Assistant Attorney General Lizo Ngcongco said on Thursday that the extradition hearing, which has struggling to get off the ground since August last year, finally got out of the starting blocks in the Gaborone Magistrate’s Court on Monday. Ngcongco said he started arguing on Monday that there was evidence to support the charges against the 13 and to warrant their extradition. He continued with his submissions on Wednesday, and is set to argue further next Thursday, when the case is scheduled to return to court. The lawyer representing the 13 exiled Namibians, Tengo Rubadiri, will then oppose Namibia’s request for the extradition of his clients. The extradition application is being heard by Botswana’s Acting Chief Magistrate Anna Mathiba. It has so far been indicated that the lawyer acting for the 13 intends to attack the extradition request by arguing that they would not receive a fair trial in Namibia, and by trying to persuade the magistrate that whatever offences they allegedly committed in Namibia were political crimes, for which Botswana does not allow extradition. All of the 13 - Danbar Tumisa Muswena, Thaddeus Muzamai, Richard Musupali Sithali, Ivan Masole Kakena, Claasen Johan Kawana, Mutoiwa George Kabuko, Samulandela Kennedy Telamo, David Nalisa Mumbone, Puteho Obbicious Matengu, Chris Samuele Mushanana, Jones Brownson Kache, Alfred Kakena Likunga and Francis Kavetu Karufu - are wanted in Namibia on a charge of high treason for alleged involvement in a plot to secede the Caprivi from Namibia. Eight of them are also set to face charges of illegally possessing firearms and ammunition in Namibia, with two - Richard Musupali Sithali and Ivan Masole Kakena - also to be charged with the murder of an alleged Caprivi Liberation Army deserter, Victor Falali, at Linyanti in Caprivi late in October 1998.