Family of man found with missing limbs, disfigured still seeking answers

The family of Kapali Mate (38), whose body was found without upper limbs and genitals at Mponje village in the Zambezi region in May, remain clueless about the circumstances that led to his death.

Mate, who went drinking with a friend on 13 May, was found floating in the river days later by fishermen in the Lisikili area.
Speaking to The Namibian recently, Mate’s uncle, Christopher Siboli, described Mate as someone who always returned home whenever he went out, no matter the time.

However, when four days passed without him coming home or anyone hearing from him, Mate’s mother, Mutinda Mate, grew worried and called Siboli to alert him.

“We reported him missing and started a joint search with the police without any luck for several days. The friend told us that after drinking together around 17h00, Mate left them, telling them that he was going home. However, my nephew never made it home. We only found his decomposed body in such a condition. My sister still cries every day when she thinks about the way in which her son died,” he said.

Siboli said it’s agonising for the family to know that the person responsible for Mate’s gruesome death has not been brought to justice.

He said the suspect’s arrest will help bring the family closure over his death and the brutal way he was killed.
“The police are still investigating, but it has been too long now. At this rate, it seems as though we won’t get any justice for my nephew.

“He did not deserve to die in such a gruesome way. My nephew was a good person. I miss him every day,” he said.
Zambezi regional police commander and commissioner Andreas Shilelo, during an interview with The Namibian last week, noted that Mate’s body was found after eight days, and his facial skin and soles of his feet were also missing.

He said no arrests have been made so far in this case, but the police are hard at work to get a breakthrough.

“Cases of such a nature are concerning for us as law enforcement officials, and we will do all we can, no matter how long it takes, to get to the bottom of it,” he said.

He noted that in October 2021, the body of an unknown man was found in the Namwi channel, also with his genitals removed.

Similarly, in September this year, the body of Fernando José was found between the Namibia-Zambia border and the NamPower line by community members, also with his genitals removed, he said.

“It’s alleged that José came to Katima Mulilo from Makanga village to do grocery shopping. However, he never returned home and his body was found a few days later.

“No arrests have been made so far in these two cases as well. However, we are adamant about searching for the culprits,” said Shilelo.