The Ministry of International Relations and Cooperation (MIRCO) will pronounce itself on the recent verdict on the case involving the deaths of the Nchindo brothers and their cousin, in due course.

A media release was issued by MIRCO Minister, Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, on Saturday after verdict on the Inquest into the killing by the Botswana Defence Force (BDF) of three Namibian nationals and their Zambian cousin, ruled in favour of BDF in the Kasane Magistrate’s Court on Thursday.

The judgement absolved the BDF from gross negligence and liability for criminal litigation.

“The 54-page judgment on the Nchindo brothers is receiving legal scrutiny by Government Attorneys and that a pronouncement will be made in due course; as the Namibian nation and the family of the deceased were expecting an appropriate closure to this unfortunate incident,” the minister noted in the statement.

According to court documents and other media reports, Kasane regional magistrate Taboka Mopipi maintained that contrary to sentiments that the seven members of BDF were heavy-handed, evidence shows that they always acted within the confines of the law.

The purpose of the inquest was to determine whether anyone should be held responsible for the deaths and whether there was any illegality in the incident.

The three brothers, Tommy (48), Martin (40) and Wamunyima Nchindo (36), and their cousin Sinvula Muyeme (44), were shot and killed by the BDF on 05 November 2020 along the Chobe River during a reported fishing expedition.

Source: The Namibian Press Agency