Staff Reporter
A SPATE of horrific crimes was committed countrywide during the festive season, starting the day before Christmas.
On Friday 24 December a ten-year-old boy reportedly stabbed an 11-year-old boy with a knife after drinking ginger beer at Dordabis to celebrate Christmas Eve. The victim was stabbed in the upper chest and sustained two open wounds. He was transferred to the Katutura intermediate hospital in an ambulance. His condition is described as serious but stable.
On the same day, at about 16:00, a male suspect stabbed 21-year-old Frans Hausiku Naingwendje in the neck, killing him. The incident happened at the Gcwatjinga village in the Kavango West Region. The suspect has not been caught yet.
Also on 24 December, a 56-year-old member of the Namibia Defence Force (NDF) reportedly shot himself in Otjomuise in Windhoek. According to the members of the Namibian Police Force who were patrolling the area, they followed a silver Toyota Corolla with NDF number plates driving recklessly on a public road. When the vehicle stopped, the NDF member reportedly got out of the car and pulled out his pistol. While police officers took cover, the deceased fired three rounds of which one ended his life.
Also in Otjomuise on the same day, between 21:00 and 22:00, an 18-year-old Namibian male allegedly entered the Friday Special Bar and was approached by four male suspects. One of the suspects held the complainant by his waist and pushed him out of the bar. One suspect had an okapi knife and another had a screwdriver. The suspects stabbed the complainant six times, in both legs, the left hip, the back, the right shoulder and the right hand, seriously injuring him. The victim is in a serious but stable condition. Three suspects, aged 29, 31 and 34, were arrested.
On the same day, at about 23:00, Chris Ujaha (35) was killed at Otjihozuotjiserandu village in the Coblenz area. He allegedly was in the company of friends when a 30-year-old suspect approached him and stabbed him in the right side of the chest with an okapi knife. The reason for the stabbing is unknown as there was no argument or provocation between the suspect and deceased. The deceased was transported to the Okakarara state hospital for medical treatment but succumbed to his injuries on Christmas Day.
Also on 24 December, two suspects aged 21 and 31 allegedly stole an ox valued at N$5 000 from the owner’s grazing area at Masivi village and slaughtered it without consent. The carcass was recovered and the suspects were arrested.
On Saturday 25 December, a rape was reported to the Rundu police after an incident around midnight at Kehemu location. A 26-year-old Namibian female complainant was reportedly raped on her way home from her ex-boyfriend’s place where she drank some beer with him and his friend. On her way home, an unknown male allegedly approached her and threatened to kill her if she shouted or refused him. He used a broken bottle to stab her in the left breast, pulled her into the nearby bushes and raped her. The suspect has not been arrested yet.
Also on Christmas Day, at around 02:10 in Oshikuku next to the lake fence, an unknown suspect attacked a 37-year-old Namibian male with a panga, hitting him all over his body and causing injuries on his head, left arm and left thigh. The suspect also took his phone, a black iPhone7 valued at N$5 500. No recovery of the property or arrest has been made.
On Saturday 25 December at about 02:15 in the Mix Settlement outside Windhoek, a Namibian female in her early 30s was stabbed to death by her boyfriend. Witnesses saw him run away from the scene and he was arrested at the Monte Christo service station.
Also on Christmas Day, at around 14: 00 at Masivi village in the Kavango West Region, a 20-year-old Namibian male suspect, the complainant’s son, reportedly stole a goat valued at N$800 from the kraal and slaughtered it with the intention to sell the meat without his father’s consent. The suspect was arrested and detained at the Ncaute police holding cells.
Between 25 December at about 21:00 and Sunday 26 December around 08:00, two men aged 34 and 37 allegedly beat a 47-year-old Namibian woman on the head with unknown objects. The incident took place at Okatseidhi village. The victim was first treated at the Tsandi District Hospital but was later transferred to the Oshakati Intermediate Hospital. Both suspects were arrested and charged.
On Sunday 26 December between 01:00 and 05:00 in James Brown Street in Kuisebmond, a 29-year-old woman visited a co-worker. She felt tired and her friend offered her a room to sleep. She woke up when someone started removing her clothes and raped her. She hit the suspect, a 58-year-old Namibian male, and pushed him from her after which he ran from the room. He was arrested and expected to appear in the Walvis Bay Magistrate’s Court.
Also on Sunday between 01:00 and 05:00 at a 25-year-old victim’s house in the Hoachanas residential area, a Namibian male suspect climbed through the window of the corrugated zinc house which was open. He undressed the victim sleeping on her bed and raped her. The suspect ran away after he was confronted by the victim’s brother. The victim was taken to Mariental for a medical examination.
On the same day, around 03:00, a woman was reportedly raped at an open space in front of the Tutaleni Primary School. The 22-year-old victim and her friend allegedly wanted to use the toilet but the main house was locked. They went to the open space and while there, an unknown man walked by and they decided to run back home. The victim jumped over a small fence and fell. The suspect caught her, took out a knife and told her to walk with him. He took her to an isolated area, put a knife to her throat and raped her. In the meantime, her friend was shouting her name and when the suspect heard her, he ran off. The suspect is unknown but can be identified by the women.
On Sunday 26 December at about 18:00 in Garnet Street in Khomasdal, Reece Carlos Zimmer (38) was reportedly shot dead with a 9 mm Makarov pistol by a 46-year-old Namibian male. The suspect and other people were allegedly leaving the house when the deceased asked for a lift. While the other people were already inside the vehicle, and the suspect and deceased were standing outside, the suspect allegedly took out his pistol and shot the deceased in the head, killing him on the spot. The suspect was arrested. It is further alleged that there were no arguments between the suspect and deceased.
On Monday 27 December at 00:30 in the Ondiiyala location of Ondangwa, a group of unknown people allegedly walked past a house and shouted at people sitting outside their house. When the people shouted back, they attacked them. As a result, a 28-year-old male was stabbed to death with an unknown object.
The suspect has not been arrested.
At the age of 104, Paulus Vilanda Wanangula reportedly on 27 December around 06:00 killed himself with a shotgun. The incident happened at the Ohakweela village in the Okalongo constituency of the Omusati region. He was reportedly last seen alive by his daughter around 20:00 the previous day when she served him dinner. The next morning the gunshot was heard after which his body was discovered on the plastic chair with the shotgun between his legs. No suicide note was left behind.
