Namibian ‘mercenaries’ named

AS Zimbabwe yesterday prepared to charge 70 suspected mercenaries arrested a week ago, The Namibian obtained the names of 28 Namibians accused of allegedly being part of a coup plot in Equatorial Guinea.

Contrary to Zimbabwean government reports that 18 Namibians were among 64 suspected mercenaries who were on board a plane impounded last week Sunday, Harare police issued a list of 28. The names exclude Hendrik Hamman, a freelance pilot who farms near the International Airport.Hamman was the only known Namibian until last week.The list contains the names of 13 South Africans, among them a Johannes Muyongo, whose passport number has been given as 414989784.The list names 13 South Africans, 28 Namibians, 24 Angolans, three suspects from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, one Briton and a Zimbabwean.Names on the Harare police’s list, which has reportedly been forwarded to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs through the Namibian Embassy in Harare, are:1. Marcoz Antoni2. Pius Hausiku Kanjowa3. Daniel Joseph Kangozi4. Kaunitwa Ngombe5. Joseph Kassanga6. Ua Tiombeze7. Domingo Vikunge8. Akwenye Hafeni9. Kowdia Daniel10. Isac Eliaser11. David Hindimbwa12. Mazireuajo Ngombe13. Ripuree van der Merwe14. Malakia Iipinge15. Abarosius Andreas16. Paulus Mapeu Haingura17. Hijarena Tjiuharo18. Ngave Jarukemo Muharukua19. Vatanaura Tsiumbua20. Lenatu Eselumu21. Manual Sekulo Pio22. Mario Alexandro Haimbiu23. Vaino Mandah Emanuel24. Likoro Samaynga25. Bonifatius Matheus26. Marques Alfredo27. Andreas Leopold28. Michael KavariMany of those detained after their plane was seized in Harare had been part of the former South African Defence Force’s 32 Battalion, while others may have served in Koevoet and the South West Africa Territory Force (SWATF).Zimbabwean authorities, who last week said the suspects could face the death penalty, yesterday indicated that they would now be charged with breaching immigration and firearms laws, according to a Reuters report.Equatorial Guinea arrested a smaller group of 15 South Africans who it said was an advance party in a coup plot against the government of President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, who has for years been accused of jailing and torturing opponents and media critics.”They have not been officially charged yet but I have been given the charges, which are attempting to purchase firearms and ammunition without a licence and also that they failed to present themselves or misrepresented themselves to immigration officials,” Jonathan Samkange, a Zimbabwean lawyer representing the group told Reuters.”According to the police they will be charged today and hopefully appear in court tomorrow (today).”Under Zimbabwe’s immigration laws, the men can be held for two weeks before a court hearing.The names exclude Hendrik Hamman, a freelance pilot who farms near the International Airport.Hamman was the only known Namibian until last week.The list contains the names of 13 South Africans, among them a Johannes Muyongo, whose passport number has been given as 414989784.The list names 13 South Africans, 28 Namibians, 24 Angolans, three suspects from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, one Briton and a Zimbabwean.Names on the Harare police’s list, which has reportedly been forwarded to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs through the Namibian Embassy in Harare, are:1. Marcoz Antoni2. Pius Hausiku Kanjowa3. Daniel Joseph Kangozi4. Kaunitwa Ngombe5. Joseph Kassanga6. Ua Tiombeze7. Domingo Vikunge8. Akwenye Hafeni9. Kowdia Daniel10. Isac Eliaser11. David Hindimbwa12. Mazireuajo Ngombe13. Ripuree van der Merwe14. Malakia Iipinge15. Abarosius Andreas16. Paulus Mapeu Haingura17. Hijarena Tjiuharo18. Ngave Jarukemo Muharukua19. Vatanaura Tsiumbua20. Lenatu Eselumu21. Manual Sekulo Pio22. Mario Alexandro Haimbiu23. Vaino Mandah Emanuel24. Likoro Samaynga25. Bonifatius Matheus26. Marques Alfredo27. Andreas Leopold28. Michael KavariMany of those detained after their plane was seized in Harare had been part of the former South African Defence Force’s 32 Battalion, while others may have served in Koevoet and the South West Africa Territory Force (SWATF).Zimbabwean authorities, who last week said the suspects could face the death penalty, yesterday indicated that they would now be charged with breaching immigration and firearms laws, according to a Reuters report.Equatorial Guinea arrested a smaller group of 15 South Africans who it said was an advance party in a coup plot against the government of President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, who has for years been accused of jailing and torturing opponents and media critics.”They have not been officially charged yet but I have been given the charges, which are attempting to purchase firearms and ammunition without a licence and also that they failed to present themselves or misrepresented themselves to immigration officials,” Jonathan Samkange, a Zimbabwean lawyer representing the group told Reuters.”According to the police they will be charged today and hopefully appear in court tomorrow (today).”Under Zimbabwe’s immigration laws, the men can be held for two weeks before a court hearing.