New Era

WINDHOEK - The owner of the farm Ada 242, also known as Okatjombua in the Steinhaussen Constituency, Kaitira Kandjii, who is also Misa's regional head, has accused the Namibian Police of harassment and intimidation.

Kandjii has approached his lawyers to seek an order for the return of 37 of his cattle that were taken from his farm by the Tjingaete brothers farming at neighbouring farm, Ada 216.

The complaint by Kandjii is a sequel to the disappearance of about 94 cattle from the Tjingaete brothers' farm, Ada 216, suspected to have been stolen and in which Kandjii's brother, Ezekiel Kazandu Tjinjeka, is implicated.

As a result of Tjinjeka's alleged involvement, the Tjingaete brothers insisted on taking custody of 37 cattle from the farm Ada 242 as guarantee that Tjinjeka who had to accompany Kandjii and family on a trip to Botswana for the funeral of their uncle, would later be delivered.

However, Kandjii maintains that he agreed to the cattle being taken from his farm under harassment and intimidation by the station commander of the Du Plessis Police Station, Warrant-Officer Elizabeth Windstand, who even accused him of being a "prime suspect" and threatened him with arrest if he did not sign the agreement for the cattle to be taken from his farm.

Not only this but the initial agreement was for only 25 cattle belonging to his mother and brother Oscar Kandjii, who had agreed to their cattle being so taken. But when the cattle were eventually taken, 27 of the 37 taken were from Kaitira Kandjii's own personal stock. Due to alleged harassment and intimidation by the police, Kandjii says, his brother could not undertake the trip with the family to Botswana, yet the cattle were taken.

Kandjii thus considers that his cattle have been taken without his permission.

"Thus, my 27 cattle were taken without my permission and consent and I regard them as stolen and maliciously seized by Eben Tjingaete and the police," reads a statement of complaint by Kandjii, a copy of which is in possession of New Era. Not only this, but he says since no suspected stolen cattle from the farm Ada 216 were found on his farm there was no more basis for holding their cattle and they should be returned.

Windstand, although aware of the letter of complaint which Kandjii has written to her superiors, however denied ever harassing Kandjii into signing the agreement between him and the Tjingaetes for the removal of the cattle from his farm. She said the agreement was between the two parties and the police were only called later to witness its implementation.

She said the two parties contested the number of cattle that were to be removed from Kandjii's farm, with Kandjii insisting on 25 and the Tjingaetes on 37. She said the police were initially invited to go and witness the agreement at Kandjii's farm - but the parties decided that they go to the nearest farm of Daniel Katjivikua, where the agreement was eventually concluded.

Officer Windstand, given her 17 years experience as a police officer, says there is no way that she could have forced Kandjii into the agreement in which the police were only a witness. She said she only remembers advising Kandjii to take control of his ear tags and brand because about three years or so ago, ear tags that belonged to him were used for stealing stock from the farm of Frans Murangi.

Meanwhile, first accused Ephrat Katjirua (41), a resident of Ohakavena village in the Epukiro Constituency, second accused Soul Mbaisa (44) and a resident of Corridor One in the Aminuis Constituency and fourth accused Ehnernfried Katjingisiua (58) also from the Aminuis Constituency were each granted bail of N$10 000.

Third accused and foreman of the farm Ada 216 at the time when the suspected theft is believed to have taken place, Matthew Majoro (28) was not granted bail as his fixed address was unknown. Majoro has been remanded in custody at Du Plessis.

All four are due to re-appear in court on February 26, in Gobabis.

Back to Top