30-year prison term for Katima stabbing

“AS for you, Mazila, your conduct in this matter was simply barbaric and obnoxious.”

Katima Mulilo resident Morris Mazila Sibitwani had to hear this stinging remark from Acting Judge Annel Silungwe in the High Court in Windhoek on Friday, before he was sentenced to a 30-year jail term for the murder of his former girlfriend, Happy Mulela Kabajani (20), almost five years ago. Kabajani died after being stabbed ten times with a knife at Katima Mulilo on April 19 2003.She was found lying dead in a footpath at the town shortly after she had walked from her home in the company of Sibitwani.Sibitwani (29), with whom Kabajani had been in a relationship that she appears to have broken off prior to her death, was convicted of murder in connection with her death on Thursday last week.Having rebuked Sibitwani for the conduct that resulted in Kabajani’s death, Acting Judge Silungwe went on to tell him that, after he had realised that his relationship with Kabajani had become sour, he became heartbroken and hell-bent on hurting her.”When a relationship comes to an end, that does not mean that the road has come to an end,” Acting Judge Silungwe told Sibitwani.”One can and should be able to soldier on in life, and to forge another relationship, if one so desires.”He added: “You chose to arm yourself with an offensive weapon, a knife, not once, but on two separate occasions, until you prematurely terminated Happy’s life by inflicting 10 stab wounds upon her body.”Acting Judge Silungwe was referring to testimony heard during Sibitwani’s trial, which started in early February last year already, that on the evening before Kabajani was killed Sibitwani had also attempted to stab her with a knife.Earlier during the sentencing, Acting Judge Silungwe also remarked: “Murder is one of the most serious crimes in this land.This is the situation in which you find yourself today, out of your own choice.”Namibia is under siege from violent crime, Acting Judge Silungwe stated: “Our society is at the mercy of an unprecedented and unacceptable wave of crimes of violence, such as murder, homicide, robbery and rape.But the society is sick and tired of such crimes.A blatant lack of respect for the life of fellow human beings has become rampant.”Despite the imposition of severe sentences in cases involving violent crime, “the momentum of preventable violence continues unabated,” Acting Judge Silungwe said.The courts and law enforcement authorities alone should not be expected to combat crime on their own, he said: “As crimes of violence are perpetrated by criminals who are themselves a product of society, it is surely incumbent on society as a whole to become proactive in combating such crimes, for it is not enough to leave the fight in the hands of the courts and law enforcement agencies alone.”Hence, parents, guardians, teachers, social scientists, the government, non-governmental organisations and the media all have an important role to play in devising suitable strategies to fight against the scourge of crimes of violence.”Sibitwani, a father of two children, aged nine and four respectively, was arrested on April 20 2003 and spent close to five years in custody before he was convicted and sentenced.Had it not been for this period spent in custody, the court would have imposed an even longer sentence than the 30-year prison term, Acting Judge Silungwe said.Defence lawyer Titus Mbaeva represented Sibitwani during his trial.Prosecutor Johan Pienaar represented the State.Kabajani died after being stabbed ten times with a knife at Katima Mulilo on April 19 2003.She was found lying dead in a footpath at the town shortly after she had walked from her home in the company of Sibitwani.Sibitwani (29), with whom Kabajani had been in a relationship that she appears to have broken off prior to her death, was convicted of murder in connection with her death on Thursday last week.Having rebuked Sibitwani for the conduct that resulted in Kabajani’s death, Acting Judge Silungwe went on to tell him that, after he had realised that his relationship with Kabajani had become sour, he became heartbroken and hell-bent on hurting her.”When a relationship comes to an end, that does not mean that the road has come to an end,” Acting Judge Silungwe told Sibitwani.”One can and should be able to soldier on in life, and to forge another relationship, if one so desires.”He added: “You chose to arm yourself with an offensive weapon, a knife, not once, but on two separate occasions, until you prematurely terminated Happy’s life by inflicting 10 stab wounds upon her body.”Acting Judge Silungwe was referring to testimony heard during Sibitwani’s trial, which started in early February last year already, that on the evening before Kabajani was killed Sibitwani had also attempted to stab her with a knife.Earlier during the sentencing, Acting Judge Silungwe also remarked: “Murder is one of the most serious crimes in this land.This is the situation in which you find yourself today, out of your own choice.”Namibia is under siege from violent crime, Acting Judge Silungwe stated: “Our society is at the mercy of an unprecedented and unacceptable wave of crimes of violence, such as murder, homicide, robbery and rape.But the society is sick and tired of such crimes.A blatant lack of respect for the life of fellow human beings has become rampant.”Despite the imposition of severe sentences in cases involving violent crime, “the momentum of preventable violence continues unabated,” Acting Judge Silungwe said.The courts and law enforcement authorities alone should not be expected to combat crime on their own, he said: “As crimes of violence are perpetrated by criminals who are themselves a product of society, it is surely incumbent on society as a whole to become proactive in combating such crimes, for it is not enough to leave the fight in the hands of the courts and law enforcement agencies alone.”Hence, parents, guardians, teachers, social scientists, the government, non-governmental organisations and the media all have an important role to play in devising suitable strategies to fight against the scourge of crimes of violence.”Sibitwani, a father of two children, aged nine and four respectively, was arrested on April 20 2003 and spent close to five years in custody before he was convicted and sentenced.Had it not been for this period spent in custody, the court would have imposed an even longer sentence than the 30-year prison term, Acting Judge Silungwe said.Defence lawyer Titus Mbaeva represented Sibitwani during his trial.Prosecutor Johan Pienaar represented the State.