Pensioner killed by liberation war bomb
Johannes Sheehama Hamukwaya (69) died in a bomb explosion near Omugulugwombashe on Sunday morning.
His body and every tool he was using were blown to pieces when a bomb, believed to be an anti-tank mine, exploded while Hamukwaya was clearing a tree stump from a gravel road that passes by his homestead.
The incident happened at Ontanda A village in the Tsandi constituency of the Omusati Region.
According to the Omusati police spokesperson, Inspector Linekela Shikongo, the explosion happened at around 07:30 near the late Hamukwaya's homestead.
“According to the information we have obtained, it is alleged that the deceased was busy clearing a tree stump from a road that passes by his homestead. While doing so, he accidentally detonated an unexploded anti-tank mine, origin still to be determined, which was buried underground,” Shikongo said.
“The explosive device is believed to be the remnant of war. The area was reported to have served as a farming camp for the South West Africa Territorial Force.” The armed liberation struggle started at Omugulugwombashe on 26 August 1966, when the South African police launched a helicopter assault on a Swapo base.
ILENI NANDJATO
His body and every tool he was using were blown to pieces when a bomb, believed to be an anti-tank mine, exploded while Hamukwaya was clearing a tree stump from a gravel road that passes by his homestead.
The incident happened at Ontanda A village in the Tsandi constituency of the Omusati Region.
According to the Omusati police spokesperson, Inspector Linekela Shikongo, the explosion happened at around 07:30 near the late Hamukwaya's homestead.
“According to the information we have obtained, it is alleged that the deceased was busy clearing a tree stump from a road that passes by his homestead. While doing so, he accidentally detonated an unexploded anti-tank mine, origin still to be determined, which was buried underground,” Shikongo said.
“The explosive device is believed to be the remnant of war. The area was reported to have served as a farming camp for the South West Africa Territorial Force.” The armed liberation struggle started at Omugulugwombashe on 26 August 1966, when the South African police launched a helicopter assault on a Swapo base.
ILENI NANDJATO
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