RDP President’s bodyguard in unlicensed gun police case
By Staff Reporter

The bodyguard of Hidipo Hamutenya, President of the Rally for Democracy and Progress, RDP, is still battling with his bail application following his arrest on Sunday on robbery charges.

The Khomas Regional Police confirmed on Thursday that Steve Kevanhu was still in police custody, pending his bail application. Kevanhu was arrested last weekend in connection with an armed robbery he had allegedly committed two years ago. He is the fourth accused in the case.

Kevahnu has been in police custody ever since and is battling to have himself out on bail, but there are complications regarding the unlicensed pistol he was found in possession with.

He is charged with other three suspects involved in an attempted robbery in which they impersonated police officers to rob a man of N$17,000 and his travel documents, as well as his cell-phone, at the Zambian Embassy.

“What complicates this case is the fact that the fire arm is not licensed,” said one senior police officer. “That is illegal. One cannot, by law, use a firearm that is not licensed. How do you account for its usage?

“An unlicensed firearm is illegal. So too is its usage, no matter the case. It makes it even worse when a politician is being guarded by bodyguards with unlicensed firearms. How does one protect a politician with an unlicensed firearm? It creates more problems than it solves.”

On Tuesday, Kevanhu appeared before Magistrate Vanessa Stanley, who postponed the case to April 30 this year. The Magistrate also denied him bail. Kevanhu also had a case of possessing an unlicensed firearm and ammunition opened against him.

Khomas Regional Crime Coordinator, Sylvanus Nghishidinwa, on Thursday confirmed that Kevanhu’s application had not yet gone through. He did not say when or whether it would go through, especially when an unlicensed firearm protecting a politician was involved.

“It is a complicated case,” said another police officer. “God knows how it will work out. Politicians are protected by bodyguards with licensed firearms, which they can legally use in case the protected politician is in danger.

“One cannot use an illegal firearm in self-defence, neither to protect property, nor to protect a politician. Two wrongs do not make a right. That is how complicated this case is.”

The case has been postponed to April 30 this year.