Newspaper Article: ‘Standoff at Shamvura Camp in Kavango’:
The Namibian Newspaper of 2 October 2007, on page 5 carried the above quoted news item.
As a person who is quite acquainted with so many people in the Shamvura area and its immediate environs, I have been closely following reports and stories about and surrounding the inexplicable disappearance and mysterious tragic death of the late young man Christof Weka.
Hence my decision to make the following comments and to ask some few questions, in my personal capacity.
As the matter is still, ostensibly, under police investigation and in view of the fact that the incident demands and justifies judicial scrutiny by the courts (including traditional courts), it is not my intention to make any subjective and/or prejudicial judgement: neither any unwarranted accusations on the matter, at this stage.
The facts, as I could obtain them, are:
(a) On that fateful day, the late Weka, went to the river, the Kavango River.
(b) The late Weka never came back home alive!
After some days his lifeless body was discovered, at Korokoko, in the Kavango River.
What happened?
Reportedly, Mr Paxton discovered the late Weka’s “abandoned” clothing and “an abandoned shotgun on a nearby sand bank and contacted the Police”.
Mr Paxton’s discovery of the late Weka’s clothing and a shotgun and his brave actions to immediately and confidently contact the police, need thorough probing, questioning and investigation.
Why did the late Weka abandon his belongings on the banks of the Kavango River? And why did Paxton take such belongings of an unidentified person straight to the police?
Did he, Paxton, know already that Weka was dead and shall never return alive?
Why should a person simply jump in the river and leave his precious belongings “abandoned on a nearby sandbank”.
Only for his lifeless body to be discovered later “beaten with a pole” – who convinced Paxton that the belongings were indeed abandoned? Abandoned for him to “discover”?
The tragic death of Weka left many many unanswered questions. Those questions must be answered sooner rather than later. The truth must be told.
The truth must come out and such truth must be known by the grieving family of Weka, the people of Shamvura, Ndiyona Constituency, the Kavango Region and the Namibian nation, at large. Such truth and justice must be eventually obtained through the impartial and unbiased investigations by and from:
– Namibian Police;
– The VaGciriku Traditional Authority;
– Namibian Courts;
– The Media; and
– The people of and from Shamvura and environment.
At this stage, it is highly insensitive and arrogantly provacative, for anybody to dare to talk about: “Shamvura Camp has a legal and binding permission to occupy”.
No agreement is cast in stone! If and when the relationship between the parties to any agreement sours or breaks down, an agreement breaks down or ceases to exist!
I pray that fairness, justice and the truth, in and regarding this tragic incident, where the life of an innocent young Namibian was lost, will eventually triumph.
John Mutorwa