Ethiopian child killings: Father wants protection order against ex-wife
Claims of attempts on his life
A diplomat whose ex-wife stands accused of killing their two children lives in constant fear because he believes she wants him dead too.
When Peter Haufiku had to confront the harsh reality of accepting the death of his two children, allegedly killed by his wife, little did he know that his own life would also come under threat.
This situation has now prompted him to seek protection through the courts against the woman he once vowed to share the rest of his life with.
Haufiku claims that several attempts have been made on his life since the tragic day his children were killed on 13 December 2020. He claims that his former wife is now actively threatening him.
Survivor claims
His case was heard on Friday in the Ondangwa Magistrate’s Court in a private hearing that was also attended by his ex-wife, Kristofina Amutenya.
Due to the sensitive nature of the case, the court decided not to reveal the details of the proceedings.
Haufiku, a commercial attaché at the Namibian embassy in Ethiopia, spoke to Namibian Sun outside of court shortly after the hearing in the company of his lawyer, Anthony Shapumba of Shapumba and Associates.
He said the reason he approached the court was to obtain a restraining order to keep his ex-wife away from his three properties – a house in Windhoek, one in the north and another in Ethiopia. He alleged that he has survived two murder attempts and suspects his former wife was behind these attempts.
Attempts described
Haufiku explained that the first alleged attempt occurred in Namibia in January 2023, while he was driving. He said a vehicle he was driving was shot at three kilometres from Omwandi, shortly before he reached the bridge, and the bullet missed him.
“The second incident happened while I was at home in Ethiopia, and the bullet came through the roof of my sleeping room. It missed where I was sitting just by 30 centimeters. I do not believe I have enemies or anyone out there who might want to get rid of me. I have never had these attacks or threats before,” he said.
Police protection
Haufiku said he reported the incidents to the police in both countries. He said Ethiopian officials are investigating a case of attempted murder, and the Namibian police has offered him protection by providing a police officer to guard his houses at the instructions of Namibian Police inspector-general Joseph Shikongo.
He said, if memory serves him well, that shortly after his ex-wife was released from prison for the murders of their children, black cars with tinted windows would frequent the outside of his house in the village.
He said the man who shot at him at the bridge was driving a similar car he previously spotted outside his home.
Living in fear
Haufiku said he now lives in fear for his life and is constantly watching his back. He said he is also experiencing disrupted sleep, fearing more attacks.
"I can hardly sleep at my house. When I am not there, they are monitoring where I am. She already killed my children, and she’s still after me,” a distraught Haufiku said.
He said he was advised by the police to apply for a protection order, which he did in June 2023.
According to Haufiku, Amutenya is fighting the restraining order.
Haufiku said Amutenya was spotted in Ethiopia in December 2023, just a few days before the attack happened. “I suspect it’s her. What was she doing in Ethiopia? She has no business there,” he said. Haufiku said he is also baffled as to why Amutenya would fight the protection order as she has no reason to come near his properties. He said their divorce was finalised in November 2020.
“There’s no valid reason to oppose the protection order. She was given a chance to pick up her belongings until the end of November 2023, but she didn’t come for them. I don’t know why she is fighting,” he said.
Surviving child
The State provisionally withdrew charges against Amutenya, who is accused of killing her own son Jenay Haufiku (9) and daughter Jane Haufiku (3) in December 2020, after a bitter divorce battle in which their father was granted custody.
A third child, Haufiku’s son, from a previous relationship, survived the attack. After the killings, which sent shockwaves across the country, Amutenya, who lived in Ethiopia with her then husband, was deported to Namibia and arrested upon arrival.
She was freed after her then lawyer, Kadhila Amoomo, challenged the decision to detain and prosecute her in Namibia.
The charges against her have been provisionally dropped, and Amutenya continues to work at the ministry of mines and energy.
Haufiku said Amutenya has taken “too much from him” and continues to make his life a "nightmare.”
He said his surviving child is in and out of hospital, having survived the attack with head injuries. “I had to send him to South Africa for an operation to get a blood clot removed, but now he suffers from seizures and his teachers constantly call me [to say] he is having episodes at school. My son’s life will never be the same."
Emotional turmoil
He said both he and his son have been receiving counselling to address the ordeal of having lost Jenay and Jane.
“My children pain me a lot. My son not only lives with the ordeal of having watched his two siblings murdered, but he now lives with a condition that is a result of the attack. His head was smashed against the wall during the incident,” Haufiku said.
He said the boy lives in constant fear, and some days are better than others. Haufiku said when he and his son once saw Amutenya at an airport, the boy went "hysterical."
“This is our new norm. But even with all the life alterations, she is still after me and wants no rest for me. If she is not fighting for money, she wants me dead. I do not know when it will stop, but they should know I am not safe. If the government can place me in another country, perhaps I can start over and have a normal life again. Coming back home is not an option,” Haufiku said.
Amutenya, represented by Mukaya Nyambe, refused to comment when approached at court on Friday, saying, 'No, I am not interested.' Magistrate Nelao Ya France heard their case.
This situation has now prompted him to seek protection through the courts against the woman he once vowed to share the rest of his life with.
Haufiku claims that several attempts have been made on his life since the tragic day his children were killed on 13 December 2020. He claims that his former wife is now actively threatening him.
Survivor claims
His case was heard on Friday in the Ondangwa Magistrate’s Court in a private hearing that was also attended by his ex-wife, Kristofina Amutenya.
Due to the sensitive nature of the case, the court decided not to reveal the details of the proceedings.
Haufiku, a commercial attaché at the Namibian embassy in Ethiopia, spoke to Namibian Sun outside of court shortly after the hearing in the company of his lawyer, Anthony Shapumba of Shapumba and Associates.
He said the reason he approached the court was to obtain a restraining order to keep his ex-wife away from his three properties – a house in Windhoek, one in the north and another in Ethiopia. He alleged that he has survived two murder attempts and suspects his former wife was behind these attempts.
Attempts described
Haufiku explained that the first alleged attempt occurred in Namibia in January 2023, while he was driving. He said a vehicle he was driving was shot at three kilometres from Omwandi, shortly before he reached the bridge, and the bullet missed him.
“The second incident happened while I was at home in Ethiopia, and the bullet came through the roof of my sleeping room. It missed where I was sitting just by 30 centimeters. I do not believe I have enemies or anyone out there who might want to get rid of me. I have never had these attacks or threats before,” he said.
Police protection
Haufiku said he reported the incidents to the police in both countries. He said Ethiopian officials are investigating a case of attempted murder, and the Namibian police has offered him protection by providing a police officer to guard his houses at the instructions of Namibian Police inspector-general Joseph Shikongo.
He said, if memory serves him well, that shortly after his ex-wife was released from prison for the murders of their children, black cars with tinted windows would frequent the outside of his house in the village.
He said the man who shot at him at the bridge was driving a similar car he previously spotted outside his home.
Living in fear
Haufiku said he now lives in fear for his life and is constantly watching his back. He said he is also experiencing disrupted sleep, fearing more attacks.
"I can hardly sleep at my house. When I am not there, they are monitoring where I am. She already killed my children, and she’s still after me,” a distraught Haufiku said.
He said he was advised by the police to apply for a protection order, which he did in June 2023.
According to Haufiku, Amutenya is fighting the restraining order.
Haufiku said Amutenya was spotted in Ethiopia in December 2023, just a few days before the attack happened. “I suspect it’s her. What was she doing in Ethiopia? She has no business there,” he said. Haufiku said he is also baffled as to why Amutenya would fight the protection order as she has no reason to come near his properties. He said their divorce was finalised in November 2020.
“There’s no valid reason to oppose the protection order. She was given a chance to pick up her belongings until the end of November 2023, but she didn’t come for them. I don’t know why she is fighting,” he said.
Surviving child
The State provisionally withdrew charges against Amutenya, who is accused of killing her own son Jenay Haufiku (9) and daughter Jane Haufiku (3) in December 2020, after a bitter divorce battle in which their father was granted custody.
A third child, Haufiku’s son, from a previous relationship, survived the attack. After the killings, which sent shockwaves across the country, Amutenya, who lived in Ethiopia with her then husband, was deported to Namibia and arrested upon arrival.
She was freed after her then lawyer, Kadhila Amoomo, challenged the decision to detain and prosecute her in Namibia.
The charges against her have been provisionally dropped, and Amutenya continues to work at the ministry of mines and energy.
Haufiku said Amutenya has taken “too much from him” and continues to make his life a "nightmare.”
He said his surviving child is in and out of hospital, having survived the attack with head injuries. “I had to send him to South Africa for an operation to get a blood clot removed, but now he suffers from seizures and his teachers constantly call me [to say] he is having episodes at school. My son’s life will never be the same."
Emotional turmoil
He said both he and his son have been receiving counselling to address the ordeal of having lost Jenay and Jane.
“My children pain me a lot. My son not only lives with the ordeal of having watched his two siblings murdered, but he now lives with a condition that is a result of the attack. His head was smashed against the wall during the incident,” Haufiku said.
He said the boy lives in constant fear, and some days are better than others. Haufiku said when he and his son once saw Amutenya at an airport, the boy went "hysterical."
“This is our new norm. But even with all the life alterations, she is still after me and wants no rest for me. If she is not fighting for money, she wants me dead. I do not know when it will stop, but they should know I am not safe. If the government can place me in another country, perhaps I can start over and have a normal life again. Coming back home is not an option,” Haufiku said.
Amutenya, represented by Mukaya Nyambe, refused to comment when approached at court on Friday, saying, 'No, I am not interested.' Magistrate Nelao Ya France heard their case.
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