Assault victim denies poisoning

POLICE at Oshakati are investigating an attack on Lukas Ndahomenwa (35), also known as ‘Kududa’, who was nearly beaten to death by a group of people from Oshakati’s Oshoopala informal settlement on Sunday.

He was accused of poisoning a certain Kamboy ka Mweupilika, from the same settlement, NamPol Liaison Officer Warrant Officer Samuel Hamukonda said on Monday. However, Hamukonda said it would be difficult to immediately identify the attackers because they were part of a mob.Kamboy died in the Oshakati State Hospital on Thursday, the same day he was admitted.Before he died he is alleged to have told his wife and neighbours that he was given a glass of tombo by his friend Lukas Ndahomenwa, also known as Kududa, who was drinking with him at tate Vitus Mandume’s cuca shop in the Oshoopala informal settlement last Wednesday.The family, relatives and friends became angry and on Sunday decided to punish Ndahomenwa.Among the group were some Samaritans who attempted to advise the mob not to kill Kududa, but rather to take him to the Police.He was then taken to the Oshakati Police Station, but was beaten on the way there.The Police took him to Oshakati State Hospital, with the mob following and demanding that he be handed over to them.Ndahomenwa is being treated in hospital.The Hospital Superintendent, Dr Korbinian Vizcaya Amutenya, told The Namibian that Ndahomenwa’s condition was serious but stable.Tate Vitus Mandume, the owner of the cuca shop where the late Kamboy was drinking, told The Namibian yesterday that Kamboy sometimes worked at his cuca shop.He said that on Wednesday Kamboy had poured a beer for himself.Afterwards, Kamboy went home and apparently fell ill and was taken to Okatana Hospital.The next day he was referred to Oshakati Hospital where he died.Ndahomenwa, originally from Onamahoka village in Ohangwena Region, now stays in Oshoopala in Oshakati with his wife Lavinia Hangula and their six children.He told The Namibian from his hospital bed that he never drank with Kamboy and had not given him poison.He said that the Police had to thoroughly investigate the allegation against him and that a post-mortem needed to be carried out to reveal the cause of Kamboy’s death.Kamboy ka Mweupilika was employed as a cleaner by the Oshakati Town Council.Hamukonda said that the Police were investigating.Kamboy was due to be buried yesterday.However, Hamukonda said it would be difficult to immediately identify the attackers because they were part of a mob.Kamboy died in the Oshakati State Hospital on Thursday, the same day he was admitted.Before he died he is alleged to have told his wife and neighbours that he was given a glass of tombo by his friend Lukas Ndahomenwa, also known as Kududa, who was drinking with him at tate Vitus Mandume’s cuca shop in the Oshoopala informal settlement last Wednesday.The family, relatives and friends became angry and on Sunday decided to punish Ndahomenwa.Among the group were some Samaritans who attempted to advise the mob not to kill Kududa, but rather to take him to the Police.He was then taken to the Oshakati Police Station, but was beaten on the way there.The Police took him to Oshakati State Hospital, with the mob following and demanding that he be handed over to them.Ndahomenwa is being treated in hospital.The Hospital Superintendent, Dr Korbinian Vizcaya Amutenya, told The Namibian that Ndahomenwa’s condition was serious but stable.Tate Vitus Mandume, the owner of the cuca shop where the late Kamboy was drinking, told The Namibian yesterday that Kamboy sometimes worked at his cuca shop.He said that on Wednesday Kamboy had poured a beer for himself.Afterwards, Kamboy went home and apparently fell ill and was taken to Okatana Hospital.The next day he was referred to Oshakati Hospital where he died.Ndahomenwa, originally from Onamahoka village in Ohangwena Region, now stays in Oshoopala in Oshakati with his wife Lavinia Hangula and their six children.He told The Namibian from his hospital bed that he never drank with Kamboy and had not given him poison.He said that the Police had to thoroughly investigate the allegation against him and that a post-mortem needed to be carried out to reveal the cause of Kamboy’s death.Kamboy ka Mweupilika was employed as a cleaner by the Oshakati Town Council.Hamukonda said that the Police were investigating.Kamboy was due to be buried yesterday.