Tribal tensions in the normally quiet village of Otjinene in the Omaheke region turned into violence on Monday after several trade stalls belonging to Aawambo, Ovazemba, and other non-Ovaherero vendors were reportedly set ablaze by members of the Ovaherero community.
The incident follows an altercation last Friday in which a local man lost his life during a fight allegedly involving five men.
The deceased has been identified as Tjijandjeua ‘Gift’ Herunga (29).
According to the police’s weekend crime report, Herunga was found at around 07h30 on a footpath going to the Ozohambo area.
“It is alleged that the body of a young man who appeared unconscious was spotted by a passerby who went and alerted the police.
Upon arrival at the scene, the police observed visible cut wounds on the head and upper lip of the victim,” the report reads.
Herunga was then transported to Otjinene clinic where he was declared dead.
The suspects have since been arrested and were scheduled to appear in court yesterday.
A source who wishes to remain anonymous told The Namibian that the Omuherero man had an argument with the Aawambo men, which later erupted into a fight, involving that the five Aawambo men attacked the Omuherero man with knives and pangas.
Another source said it is not the first time such an accident takes place. Another man was allegedly killed by an Oshiwambo-speaking man two years ago.
According to sources, the angry community burned the stalls in the area because they believed non-Oshiwambo-speaking men smoked dagga there, which made them aggressive.
Otjinene constituency councillor Erwin Katjizeu denies any tribal tensions at Otjinene.
“There is no tension between the Oshiwambo and the Ovaherero people at Otjinene,” he says.
Katjizeu says the only complaint his office has received from the community involved undocumented people causing “problems” at Otjinene.
He says the these people are suspected to have fled from Angola, and most of them cannot be identified.
Katjizeu assures the community of Otjinene and surrounding areas that the police are fully involved and that they should not be afraid to send their children to school.
“Otjinene is an economic hub for investors, and all tribes are welcome. We believe in one Namibia, one nation,” he says.
The accused appeared in the Otjinene Magistrate’s Court yesterday.
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