Erasmus Shalihaxwe

Businesswoman Martha Namundjebo-Tilahun, has denied ever selling a Windhoek property to former 
Democratic Republic of Congo's (DRC) President Joseph Kabila. This comes after the Confidente newspaper reported last week that Kabila owns a mansion in Windhoek's Brakwater area said to have been bought from Namundjebo-Talihun. The property, situated approximately 1km from the B1 highway, among Brackwater's restricted and private owned farms on the outskirts of Windhoek. This is despite Confidente visiting the said property and speaking to two clearners who were unable to desclose the whereabouts of Kabila, stating that they only started work there recently. Meanwhile, responding to Confidente through her lawyer Boris Isaacks from Isaacks and Associates Inc law firm, Namundjebo-Tilahun said she never sold a property in Brakwater and urged the newspaper to visit the deeds office to establish who was and is the current owners of the property referred to.

‘’We act on behalf of Dr Martha Namundjebo-Tilahun (hereinafter referred to as our client). We hold instructions that our client has not sold a Brakwater property to Joseph Kabila. We kindly request that you visit the deeds office to establish who was and is the current owners of the property you are referring to. Our client has no knowledge of the information being sought. We herewith demand that you refrain from publishing any article(s) that may reflect the contrary. Our clients’ rights remain reserved,’’ said Isaacks. Former executive director in Ministry of International Relations and Corperation Penda Naanda, said the ministry has no knowledge of Kabila’s presence in the country.

“The ministry wishes to clarify that the movement of former heads of States into Namibia is communicated through diplomatic channels and no such request or notification has been brought to the attention of this ministry,” Naanda said.
On whether Namibia will comply with a request to extradite Kabila in the event of a formal request, Naanda said: “Namibia, as a signatory to international treaties on mutual legal assistance and extradition, would address any formal requests in line with the Constitution, domestic laws, and international obligations.”
He stressed: “No such request or communication has been received from the DRC, as the former President is not in 
Namibia.”

He further noted that the ministry is not aware of any high-profile figures residing in the country.
Kabila, who ruled the DRC from 2001 to 2019, is being tried in absentia on charges of war crimes, murder, rape and treason.
He assumed office at the age of 29 following the assassination of his father, Laurent Kabila. His presidency was marked by controversy after he extended his mandate by delaying elections for two years beyond his constitutional term, which ended in 2017.
The DRC’s public prosecutor has formally requested the death penalty against him, alleging he supported Rwanda-backed M23 rebels who have seized key cities and towns in the country’s east in recent months.