Kazenambo pleads not guilty
Former cabinet minister Kazenambo Kazenambo has denied threatening, insulting and assaulting a police officer at a veterinary checkpoint last year.
The trial of outspoken politician and former cabinet minister Kazenambo Kazenambo started yesterday in the Gobabis Regional Court, where he pleaded not guilty to several charges.
He faces charges of crimen injuria, assaulting a member of the police, resisting a member of the police, and preventing a police officer from performing his duties.
The charges stem from events that happened on 7 May last year at the Gam veterinary checkpoint in the Otjinene Region. Kazenambo allegedly threatened, cursed and assaulted a police officer who tried to inspect his car.
The complainant, Constable Eneas Kunasha, finished testifying yesterday after a lengthy cross-examination by defence counsel Partick Kauta.
According to the charge sheet, Kazenambo unlawfully and intentionally insulted and impaired Kunasha's dignity when he said to him: “Fuck you M'wambo,” and: “You are a poor M'wambo.”
Kazenambo is further accused of assaulting Kunasha in the performance of his duties by pushing him and grabbing him by the collar.
He is also accused of unlawfully resisting and obstructing Kunasha in performing his duties.
Kazenambo is also accused of threatening violence against the police officer when he tried to inspect Kazenambo's vehicle or write down his vehicle's details.
According to Kazenambo he will testify that when he arrived at the Gam checkpoint he was provoked by Kunasha, who told him: “Kazenambo, you will not pass here today without filling in the forms.”
Kunasha then allegedly asked Kazenambo why he used to talk nonsense about “Owambos” when he was a member of parliament and continued to do so in the newspapers after losing his seat in the National Assembly.
According to Kazenambo he ignored these questions, whereupon Kunasha became angry and demanded that he disembark from the vehicle and accompany him to a nearby police tent.
Kazenambo claims he ignored Kanusha and was then grabbed by his shirt while he was sitting in his car.
Kazenambo said at one point he drove through the gate, but then returned and told Kanusha that he respected the police uniform and fought for it during the liberation struggle.
He then allegedly challenged Kanusha to remove the uniform if he wanted to fight. When Kanusha refused, Kazenambo drove away.
Kazenambo denies having assaulted, insulted or obstructed the officer in any way.
The case was postponed to 21 and 22 June when the State is expected to continue with the evidence of the remaining five witnesses. Regional Court Magistrate Ileni Velikoshi presided and prosecutor Salomon Kanyemba appeared for the State.
ELLANIE SMIT
He faces charges of crimen injuria, assaulting a member of the police, resisting a member of the police, and preventing a police officer from performing his duties.
The charges stem from events that happened on 7 May last year at the Gam veterinary checkpoint in the Otjinene Region. Kazenambo allegedly threatened, cursed and assaulted a police officer who tried to inspect his car.
The complainant, Constable Eneas Kunasha, finished testifying yesterday after a lengthy cross-examination by defence counsel Partick Kauta.
According to the charge sheet, Kazenambo unlawfully and intentionally insulted and impaired Kunasha's dignity when he said to him: “Fuck you M'wambo,” and: “You are a poor M'wambo.”
Kazenambo is further accused of assaulting Kunasha in the performance of his duties by pushing him and grabbing him by the collar.
He is also accused of unlawfully resisting and obstructing Kunasha in performing his duties.
Kazenambo is also accused of threatening violence against the police officer when he tried to inspect Kazenambo's vehicle or write down his vehicle's details.
According to Kazenambo he will testify that when he arrived at the Gam checkpoint he was provoked by Kunasha, who told him: “Kazenambo, you will not pass here today without filling in the forms.”
Kunasha then allegedly asked Kazenambo why he used to talk nonsense about “Owambos” when he was a member of parliament and continued to do so in the newspapers after losing his seat in the National Assembly.
According to Kazenambo he ignored these questions, whereupon Kunasha became angry and demanded that he disembark from the vehicle and accompany him to a nearby police tent.
Kazenambo claims he ignored Kanusha and was then grabbed by his shirt while he was sitting in his car.
Kazenambo said at one point he drove through the gate, but then returned and told Kanusha that he respected the police uniform and fought for it during the liberation struggle.
He then allegedly challenged Kanusha to remove the uniform if he wanted to fight. When Kanusha refused, Kazenambo drove away.
Kazenambo denies having assaulted, insulted or obstructed the officer in any way.
The case was postponed to 21 and 22 June when the State is expected to continue with the evidence of the remaining five witnesses. Regional Court Magistrate Ileni Velikoshi presided and prosecutor Salomon Kanyemba appeared for the State.
ELLANIE SMIT
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