THE businessman from Oneeya village who was arrested by the Omusati police last week Friday in connection with the murder of 33-year-old Benhard Kalimbo appeared in the Outapi Magistrate's Court on Monday on a murder charge.

Maurus Valombola (54), who is the Onyaluwili Swapo branch coordinator in the Anamulenge Constituency, was not asked to plead and his case was postponed to tomorrow for further police investigation and for a formal bail application.

Kalimbo died in the Oshakati State hospital on February 7, after he was severely beaten with a blunt object the previous day.

Villagers from Oneeya, Epukunoyana, Okakaukanyaluwili, Ogongo and Okeeke held a peaceful demonstration outside the Outapi Magistrate's Court on Monday morning, demanding that Valombolo not be granted bail and calling for a stiff sentence if found guilty.

The demonstrators alleged in their petition handed over to the control prosecutor Pineas Mpofu that Kalimbo was harassed, intimidated and accused by Valombola when the deceased visited his shebeen at Okeeke.

They said Kalimbo left Valombola 's shebeen and headed home. Valombola allegedly followed him with his vehicle. Valombola then allegedly assaulted Kalimbo and left him in the bush, where he was found the next morning and taken to hospital.

"We collectively petition the Outapi Magistrate's Court not to grant bail to the man accused of murdering Benhard Kalimbo, that he be remanded in custody until the trial is finished and that the court should speed up the trial and a stiff punishment should be given during sentencing," the demonstrators said.

Mpofu said each and every accused person has the right to apply for bail and it is for the court, depending on evidence given, to decide whether to grant bail or not.