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Namibian immigrations officer receives threats for arresting Zimbabweans

by Staff reporter
19 Jan 2012 at 08:00hrs | Views
Namibian immigration officer Ruben Kandjimi Kapumburu, who arrested two Zimbabweans for alleged illegal street vending and overstaying in the country, has been receiving threatening text messages from an unknown culprit.

The 26 year-old officer who is based at the Eenhana office of the Ministry of Home Affairs and Immigration told Informante  that on 10 December 2011 he requested police reinforcement in order to carry out a clean -up operation of illegal immigrants in and around town.

The sting aimed at netting two Zimbabwean nationals among many other people arrested on that day. The duo are Desmond Kadonzvo (28) from Chinhoyi and Colled Nyanguwo (23) from P301 Pfupajena, Chegutu.

Shortly before Christmas, Kapumburu received a Zimbabwean visitor who introduced himself as Chris, an apparent resident of   Omuthiya Gwiipundi Town in the Oshikoto Region.

He allegedly came to enquire about Kadonzvo's condition in the police holding cells and to create a relationship with Kapumburu just in case he wished to conduct more enquiries about the suspect.

Chris claimed to be the brother of Kadonzvo.

During their discussion, Chris demanded to have the immigration officer's cellphone number as a way to keep in touch with him whenever there is a need to know the fate of his alleged brother Kadonzvo.

Kapumburu complied with the request because  he did not suspect that his goodwill of giving the number will backfire one day.

At 17h40 on 4 January 2012, Kapumburu received a text message on his cell phone which came from the cell phone number +263-73-5335001 saying; "The more Desmond suffers be careful it can be you more than him." When he enquired as to who was sending the message, the same person responded at 17h54: "Desmond's father."

"At  first, I did not take the messages seriously but when the same thing was repeated on 12 January, I became suspicious that this person means serious business, hence I was compelled to report it to the police," Kapumburu said.

The third message which was sent on 12 January 2012 came through at 5h54 from cell phone number  +263-73-6127926 stating; " My friend you shall suffer from Zimbabwe. "

Ohangwena police spokesperson Abner Kaume Iitumba confirmed to Informante that the police is investigating cases of illegal vending, overstaying in the country and assault through threatening.

These are CR 26122011 against Nyanguwo, CR 27212012 against Kandonzvo and CR 4112012 against the unknown sender of threatening messages.

Iitumba said the authorities will seek the full cooperation of their counterparts in Zimbabwe through Interpol to search the culprits who appear to be using Zimbabwean cell phone numbers.

Source - informante