Namibian Sun

KENYA KAMBOWE

GCIGCO

A Kavango West family has been left reeling after a man allegedly kicked his mother to death following a disagreement over a donkey.

It is alleged that 23-year-old Andreas Katjeuka Nipembe, who was apparently under the influence of alcohol and marijuana, beat his mother with a donkey bit, kicked her while wearing heavy safety boots and then tramped on 57-year-old Behetta Nipembe.

The murder happened this past Friday at Gcigco village in the Kavango West Region, some 70 kilometres west of Rundu.

The suspect, who appeared in the Rundu Magistrate's Court on Monday, also gave the police a false name. He appeared before Magistrate Hellen Olaiya and the matter was postponed to 31 August for further police investigations and for the accused to acquire legal representation.



















Namibian Sun visited the family and spoke to the victim's husband, Hilarius Hausiku (63), who narrated how his stepson had assaulted his wife.

Out of fear, he had run away and did not assist his defenceless wife.

He said his stepson was under the influence of alcohol and he also suspects he was high on marijuana.

Hausiku feared that the suspect would have assaulted them both.



Disagreement over a donkey

He said that the assault on his wife emanated from a disagreement over a donkey that belonged to a cousin.

He said his wife had told her son to remove a bit from a donkey he arrived at home with that evening, so it could feed on grass, something the accused disapproved of.

His wife later removed the bit from the donkey, which led to the accused using it to assault her, Hausiku said.

He stood by helplessly as his stepson began the assault on his wife before fleeing the scene, after realising that he would also be harmed if he intervened.

After the assault, which including a barrage of kicks to body of the helpless woman, the suspect placed first the victim's limp body against a pole in the compound and minutes later moved it into the room where Hausiku was fast asleep.

Hausiku said he woke up later for a smoke and discovered that his wife was seated in the room.

“I asked her come to bed but she told me that she was unable to move. I then had to pick her up and place her on the bed. Just as I turned to touch her, she was cold. She had succumbed to her injuries,” Hausiku said.

Hausiku said he then went to call his brother and the neighbours came one by one, which led to the police being informed.



Rot in jail

Hausiku said he is a Christian and has made peace with his wife's death.

“If God had written that she would go on that day, then I shall accept it. There is nothing more I can do but remember her as the woman who stood by me all these years. I will always remember,” a teary Hausiku said.

However, Hausiku said he wanted his stepson to rot in jail.

“He brought more poverty upon me and therefore he should rot in jail and never come out, I shall not forgive him for what he did,” Hausiku said.



Coincidence

Namibian Sun last year visited the family during a trip to the area and reported on how the family was suffering because of poverty.

The article led to a fishing company donating various items to the family.