Ngurare comforts children of late Shiweda

Prime Minister Elijah Ngurare has assured the two children of murdered Namibian control prosecutor Justine Shiweda of government's continued support as they grapple with the devastating loss of their mother.

The children witnessed the attack on their mother last year, as they were on their way to work and school when it took place.

During a visit to the home of the Ondangwa prosecutor's mother last Thursday, Ngurare embraced the children and offered words of comfort.

"They're my friends," the prime minister said in an emotional moment intended to reassure the children and their grandmother, who has been caring for them since their mother's death.

Ngurare also praised Shiweda's sisters for supporting their grieving mother and taking responsibility for raising the late prosecutor's children.

In a statement, the Office of the Prime Minister said Ngurare welcomed the establishment of an education fund by friends, sympathisers and family members to support the children's education.

The fund is privately driven and not a government initiative. Ngurare said it would help safeguard the children's future following the loss of their mother.

He also encouraged the children to work hard at school, pursue their dreams and strive to make their late mother proud.

Brutal attack

Shiweda died on 7 February after spending nearly four months in hospital following a shooting and acid attack in Ondangwa on 17 October 2025. Her killing sparked national outrage and renewed concerns about the safety of prosecutors and other officials working in the criminal justice system.

She was attacked outside her home, on her way to work, when gunmen allegedly opened fire on her vehicle before dousing her with a corrosive substance, as her two children looked on.

Shiweda sustained severe injuries and underwent treatment for months before succumbing to them. The murder investigation subsequently led to the arrest of several suspects, while police continued searching for others allegedly linked to planning and carrying out the attack.

Among those arrested in connection with the case is businessman Abner Mateus, whom the State alleges was the mastermind behind Shiweda's killing. Mateus has denied the allegations.

Ongoing investigation

The State says Shiweda was targeted because of her work and her opposition to bail applications by suspects in cases she prosecuted. The case has also drawn attention because of the alleged links between some of the accused and a separate multimillion-dollar insurance fraud investigation in northern Namibia.

Police investigations continue, with authorities pursuing suspects believed to have played different roles in the attack, including the alleged procurement of vehicles and firearms and facilitating the escape of those involved. The latest development in the case came last week when police arrested Matatias Ndengu, the outstanding suspect who had allegedly been on the run since October.

He is accused of driving the Volkswagen Polo used as the getaway vehicle following the attack on Shiweda. His arrest brought the number of suspects taken into custody in connection with the murder investigation closer to the total number of people police believe were involved in the alleged plot.

Shiweda's death prompted an outpouring of grief across the country, with government officials, members of the legal fraternity and the public paying tribute to her work as a prosecutor.

She was later honoured at an official memorial service before being laid to rest.

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