WINDHOEK – The Namibian Police yesterday admitted that the N$20 000 reward for information that could lead to the arrest of fugitive businessman Lazarus Shaduka was not bearing any fruit.
Deputy Commissioner Edwin Kanguatjivi, the head of Nampol’s Public Relations division yesterday informed New Era that the police believe that Shaduka fled to Angola. He however added that he does not know whether Shaduka is still in that country. Kanguatjivi was reluctant to discuss the matter, only saying: “That is all I am willing to say.” He also refused to comment on the email sent last week allegedly by Shaduka to The Namibian newspaper, in which he is quoted saying he fled to “expose corrupted and unlawful activities around the Supreme Court ruling in which his acquittal on a charge of murder was overturned.” Shaduka apparently fled to Angola in December last year where he is believed to have relatives after the Supreme Court sentenced him to 20 years in prison for the murder of his wife.
In January this year Nampol announced a reward of N$20 000 for any solid information that could lead to his arrest. Police also warned would-be informants to stop providing “false and misleading information” about Shaduka’s whereabouts in an attempt to get their hands on the N$20 000. Shaduka was convicted of murdering his wife Selma Shaimemanya (33) in their Klein Windhoek home on July 13, 2008. He spent more than two years in custody, but was released on August 23, 2010 after he was found guilty on culpable homicide and fined N$25 000, which he paid the day his trial ended. However, the State successfully appealed the decision in the Supreme Court on December 13, the same day Shaduka fled the country.
The Supreme Court set Shaduka’s earlier conviction of culpable homicide by the High Court aside, and he was formally convicted over the murder of Shaimemanya. Anyone with information about Shaduka’s whereabouts is urged to contact Detective Sergeant Amakali on 081 249 9692 or Chief Inspector Barry de Klerk on 0811 290054, or Khomas Regional Crime Investigations Coordinator, Deputy Commissioner Sylvanus Nghishidimbwa on 081 338 5358.
By Tunomukwathi Asino