KATIMA MULILO – Gender-based violence which often puts women at the receiving end took a dramatic turn when a young man was killed by his girlfriend in Katima Mulilo last week. The suspect identified as Lyonga Kabahali (21) appeared in court yesterday on a charge of murder.
She was arrested by the police last Friday after she allegedly stabbed her boyfriend in the chest with a knife following a domestic quarrel. The deceased has been identified as Sico Mucokwe (21). The young man succumbed to his injuries upon arrival at the Katima Mulilo State Hospital.
It is alleged that Mucokwe visited his girlfriend’s home in the Ngweze location, but did not find her at home. Slanderous phone messages were exchanged between the two afterwards, with Mucokwe accusing the girlfriend of cheating. After meeting at the girlfriend’s home, who was left alone at home since her guardian works outside Katima Mulilo, a fight ensued leading up to the young man assaulting his girlfriend repeatedly, which led to her stabbing him. It is further alleged that after learning that she had committed the horrendous act, the girl fainted out of shock and the two were both lying unconscious on the ground when they were discovered. The girlfriend was only arrested at the hospital after regaining consciousness. She was remanded in custody and the case was postponed to December 16 for further police investigation.
Meanwhile, a taxi driver identified as Mukaya Patrick (21) appeared in court on a charge of culpable homicide after hitting and killing 7-year-old Lumba Kabende on Malena Road between NHE and Choto locations. It is alleged the taxi driver who hit the young girl at night, decided to flee the scene with his lights switched off to avoid detection following the incident. He later handed himself over to the police. He was given bail of N$4000. Jateil Mudamburi appeard for the state, while magistrate Nomsa Sibanda presided. In a separate incident, another Katima Mulilo resident, Michael Katupisa (38) committed suicide last Thursday at the village of Bukalo. It is not clear why he took his own life and no suicide note was found.
By George Sanzila