Youngster nabbed with stolen NDF machine gun

POLICE have uncovered a Namibia Defence Force heavy machine gun that disappeared from the Bagani Military Base in March, while soldiers were guarding the bridge connecting the Caprivi and Kavango regions.

The gun was found in the bag of an 18-year-old who was attempting to take it further inland. Police spokesperson Warrant Officer Christopher Munyika said Mutagob Haraseb was arrested on Thursday at the Divundu check-point where he was hitch-hiking to Rundu.The PKM machine gun was tucked in his bag.The gun disappeared after one of the soldiers allegedly left it at the foot of the bridge one March evening.It was taken with its 200 rounds of ammunition.Munyika said when the gun was found in Haraseb’s bag it only had 105 bullets on its belt.Haraseb appeared in court yesterday on charges of theft of a machine gun and ammunition.The Namibian understands that the soldier who was in charge of the gun had been court-martialled and discharged from the army.The NDF said it will only be able to comment on the matter next week.Police spokesperson Warrant Officer Christopher Munyika said Mutagob Haraseb was arrested on Thursday at the Divundu check-point where he was hitch-hiking to Rundu.The PKM machine gun was tucked in his bag.The gun disappeared after one of the soldiers allegedly left it at the foot of the bridge one March evening.It was taken with its 200 rounds of ammunition.Munyika said when the gun was found in Haraseb’s bag it only had 105 bullets on its belt.Haraseb appeared in court yesterday on charges of theft of a machine gun and ammunition.The Namibian understands that the soldier who was in charge of the gun had been court-martialled and discharged from the army.The NDF said it will only be able to comment on the matter next week.