After weeks of official stalling, and protests from both SWAPO and the Namibia National Convention, six of the people detained following the assassination of Chief Filemon Elifas finally appeared in the Windhoek Supreme Court on Monday 1 December. However, although the Attorney-General of South-West Africa had confirmed at the end of October that the police investigation into Chief Elifas's death had been completed, the charges, except in one instance only, made no mention of the murder. The charges, framed under the Terrorism Act, accuse all six people of being members or active supporters of SWAPO, and of taking part in "terrorist activities aimed at overthrowing the lawful administration of South West Africa" between 1 April and 6 May 1975. All are alleged to have provided money and materials to people opposed to the South African regime and operating in Namibia, Angola and elsewhere.
The accused are:
AARON MUCHIMBA - SWAPO National Treasurer and Organizing Secretary, arrested in Windhoek on 19 August, is accused of supplying R380, a radio and "comforts" such as blankets. He is also alleged to have purchased a Landrover with the intention of giving it to an anti-South African group.
ANDREAS NANGOLO, who was detained in Ovamboland, is accused of buying a Landrover and handing the vehicle over to one Usko Nambinga who in turn was to pass it on.
HENDRIK SHIKONGO is the only person directly accused of having anything to do with Chief Elifas's assassination. He is alleged to have provided transport for a man called Nicodemus Mwahi and two strangers, knowing that they were intending either to abduct the Chief, or to kill him. It was these people, the charge sheet claims, who, either jointly or separately, did in due course carry out the assassination.
The other three accused, all of them women, are nurses who were arrested in Engela. One of them is only 18 years old. They are:
RAUNA NAMBINGA, detained on 17 September, is accused of crossing into Angola to meet a SWAPO group there, and of giving a dress, soap and sanitary towels to a Miss Kafaila, one of its members. She is also alleged to have provided money.
NAIMI NOMBOWO, who was detained on 20 October, is charged with presenting R10 to Usko Nambinga who was to pass it on to a group with "violent" intentions. ANNA NGAIHONDJWA, was detained along with Naimi Nombowo, and is charged with the same offence of providing money.
Throughout the first two days of the case 200 people picketed the Windhoek Supreme Court, singing SWAPO songs and paying tribute to exiled and imprisoned leaders of the liberation movement. Placards were carried bearing such slogans as "SWAPO is sure for victory, Freedom Now, Now..." "Illegal regime have no right to try the just cause!" and "We are suffer (sic) for a free united Namibia". At one stage the judge ordered the main doors of the courtroom to be closed to shut out the sound of singing voices. Police were called, with dogs, but reportedly did not intervene.
In the event, the trial was postponed to 16 February 1976, following an application from the defence for further time in which to prepare the case. The trial will take place in Swakopmund. The defendants have not yet been asked to plead.
