Avihe’s mother remembers daughter

THE grieving mother of nine-year-old Cheryl Avihe Ujaha has made an emotional plea to the police and the public to help find justice for her daughter’s brutal death three years ago.

Two days ago, 28 August, marked exactly three years since Avihe’s mutilated body was found discarded near a riverbed between Katutura and Khomasdal in Windhoek.

She had been raped and partially dismembered, and had to be buried without a foot, arms and thigh.

Her mother, Pekakarua Sylvia Kaimu, told The Namibian on the anniversary of her daughter’s death it was not easy.

“It takes a lot out of you.”

In a recent interview with The Namibian, the Khomas regional commander of the Namibian Police, commissioner Ismael Basson, said they are still investigating Avihe’s murder and have not arrested anyone in connection with her killing. He also said they cannot share too much information at this point, but called on members of the public to contact any police station if they have any information that could lead to Avihe’s killer(s).

On the evening of her third anniversary, Avihe’s father posted on Facebook, “Avihe muatje uandje, you are not forgotten, justice shall prevail one day.” (Meaning, Avihe my child, you are not forgotten. Justice shall prevail one day).

Meanwhile, retired police commissioner Sylvanus Nghishindimbwa, in an exclusive interview with this reporter, said Avihe’s case was close to his heart.

“I will want to see this case solved before I die. Of course, I am available when my services are needed to help solve this case. But in cases such as this, one has to be patient because one day the truth will come out,” he said.

Nghishindimbwa said although in 2018 they were close to an arrest in 2018, it turned out that there was not enough evidence.

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