Massacre case stalls

The mental evaluation of Rundu massacre suspect Jesaya Gabriel Chuhunda is yet to be completed nearly 11 months after magistrate ordered that a report be finalised and presented to the court.

Chuhunda, who was 20 at the time of the incident, is accused of slaughtering five family members a year ago at Ndama location in Rundu. The nation was left in utter shock by the killings.

Chuhunda is charged with five counts of murder for allegedly killing his grandmother Ndongo Ntumba (77), his mother Ndara Elizabeth Mpande (46), and his three nephews Musenge Elias Tjingelesu (3), Hausiku Daniel Kapumburu (4) and Musenge Petrus Muruti (6).

Preliminary reports indicated he allegedly carried out the gruesome murders when his sister refused to give him money. It was also alleged at the time of the murders that he was a drug user. Since his second court appearance on 20 August 2018, Chuhunda has not set foot in the Rundu Magistrate's Court again.

This was after Magistrate Sonia Samupofu ordered that he undergo psychiatric evaluation. Chuhunda was also told to apply for legal aid.

Since then the case has been postponed on several occasions, pending the finalisation of the psychiatric evaluation report and it being presented to the court.

Last Thursday the matter was again postponed by Magistrate Hellen Olaiya until 26 July, as the court is still waiting for the report.





No progress was disclosed in terms of when the report will be available or whether a spot had been secured for the suspect to undergo evaluation at the Windhoek Central Hospital's mental healthcare centre.

The centre is the only state-owned facility in the country that provides forensic psychiatry.

It has a bed capacity of 80, however, only 16 of these are allocated for forensic psychiatry.

The head of the mental healthcare centre, Hileni Ndjaba, explained the procedure when it comes to evaluating patients referred to it by the courts.

Ndjaba said they normally receive an order from a court to observe a patient for 30 days, but it can take months or even years for a patient to be seen, as they have a limited number of beds, and a waiting list has been created.

This means that after 30 days, a new batch of patients are accommodated.

Ndjaba refused to share how many patients are on the waiting list.

When asked about Chuhunda, she said once his name is next on the list, he will be called for an evaluation.

“As the ministry of health, we have put a system in place; we don't work for the courts, but we work with the courts,” Ndjaba said.

“The courts have told you that they have a problem with the waiting list; unfortunately there is nothing we can do about it, as it is the mechanism we have put in place to work better and we believe the case will still be finalised because the person will not die. When his name is reached, he will be called in,” Ndjaba said.

“If they are not seen on time it does not mean that they are going to die; it's not an illness but a process for the court to finalise what they are fighting for.”

Ndjaba said there only three clinical psychiatrists in the country to serve over 2.5 million people.



Shockwaves

The Rundu massacre sent shockwaves through the country. There was a public outcry after allegations were made on social media that Chuhunda's sister had contacted the police shortly before the murders, but they did not respond as there was no transport available.

Disciplinary action was taken against two senior officers in the aftermath of the killings.

Former Rundu station commander Chief Inspector Andreas Mushongo Haingura and Chief Inspector Eberhard Muyambo were found guilty of negligence and fined N$1 500 each.

Haingura was redeployed to the Kavango East regional police headquarters after the incident.



KENYA KAMBOWE