Family protests in Windhoek over missing Omusati man Beatus ‘Tuna’ Iiyambo

Family members and friends of Beatus ‘Tuna’ Iiyambo, who has been missing for two months, staged a demonstration in Windhoek’s Otjomuise on Wednesday demanding answers on his whereabouts.

Tuna travelled from Onakaheke village in the Omusati region after being offered a job to sell kapana for Otjomuise-based businessman Matheus Shapaka.

He travelled on 11 January and went missing the following day.

At around 07h00 on the 12 January Shapaka allegedly called the mother to tell her that her son had arrived, but did not sleep the whole night as he was apparently hallucinating and calling out names of people from his village.

Both his mother and brother say Tuna has never had mental illness problems before.

Family members marched from Otjomuise’s Ramatex to the police station, demanding answers and justice for Tuna.

“My brother was a peaceful person. Even during arguments he would walk away to avoid fighting,” says Natanael Katuta.

He says his brother was happy when he found a job.

Tuna’s cousin, Stefanus Iiyambo, says Tuna informed him that he was travelling to Windhoek.

He says Tuna was very happy and they had been communicating through text messages until Tuna stopped responding.

“I was with him before he travelled. He said to me ‘nangaye nda zako kowambo, kamu monandje we, onda ka ninga ombwiti’ (I too am leaving the north, you won’t see me again. I am going to be a mbwiti),” Katuta says.

“He was very happy. His last message to me was ‘A li nana’, meaning the bus was fast.”

Family members told The Namibian that they want to know Tuna’s whereabouts, alleging that the police are refusing to hold Shapaka accountable.

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