Namibian ‘mercenaries’ not our problem, says Govt

IT was impossible for Government to negotiate for the release of Namibians detained in Zimbabwe on suspicion of being mercenaries because of the severity of the situation, Information and Broadcasting Minister Nangolo Mbumba said yesterday.

Seventy suspected mercenaries – 28 of whom are said to be Namibians – were detained close to two weeks ago when a plane they were travelling in was impounded at Harare airport. They were allegedly headed for Equatorial Guinea to take part in a coup.”It’s regrettable that people who consider themselves to be Namibian citizens are linking up with their former commanders and other countries’ demobilised units to try and go destabilise other countries,” Mbumba told the media yesterday after a briefing on recent Cabinet decisions.Mbumba termed the incident “embarrassing” for Namibia.The Minister said Namibian citizens said to be among the accused had to be dealt with under Zimbabwean laws.”We recognise the responsibility to all citizens in other countries.We can’t tell the Zimbabwean government to give us our persons if they committed a crime.There’s nothing we can do,” he said.Mbumba added that Government would have to wait until the “picture is clearer” before deciding on how it would approach the matter.”We don’t condone it, don’t appreciate it and don’t want to be associated with it,” he concluded his statement on the matter.They were allegedly headed for Equatorial Guinea to take part in a coup.”It’s regrettable that people who consider themselves to be Namibian citizens are linking up with their former commanders and other countries’ demobilised units to try and go destabilise other countries,” Mbumba told the media yesterday after a briefing on recent Cabinet decisions.Mbumba termed the incident “embarrassing” for Namibia.The Minister said Namibian citizens said to be among the accused had to be dealt with under Zimbabwean laws.”We recognise the responsibility to all citizens in other countries.We can’t tell the Zimbabwean government to give us our persons if they committed a crime.There’s nothing we can do,” he said.Mbumba added that Government would have to wait until the “picture is clearer” before deciding on how it would approach the matter.”We don’t condone it, don’t appreciate it and don’t want to be associated with it,” he concluded his statement on the matter.