RUNDU – The police in Kavango West have confirmed that a father and his two children, a 12-year-old boy and an 18-year-old girl, died after allegedly eating mutete at Nzinze village in Musese constituency.
The Kavango West regional police commander Commissioner Julia Sakuwa-Neo, in a police report, confirmed the recent reports of the said event. She said the incident was not reported to the police earlier when it happened, until it was seen circulating on social media, and only then did it reach the police.
“It was reported that five family members from Nzinze village fell ill after they consumed a family meal (fresh traditional vegetables known as mutete and pap (yisima) on Tuesday, 6 January 2026 and on Thursday, 8 January 2026, resulting in the death of a 12-year-old boy, while the other four were admitted to the hospital,’’ she said. “After police follow-up, the Kahenge police station opened an inquest docket as per 01/2026, in which a 12-year-old Vendelinus Kangumbe Kudumo (son) died at Nankudu state hospital on 9 January 2026,’’ she said.
“One of the survivors who was admitted at Rundu State hospital, Anastancia Kudumo (18) a female, also passed on, on Sunday, 11 January 2026, in Rundu State hospital, while the third victim, who is their father, Adolf Hango Kudumo, also passed on, on Monday, 13 January 2026 in Rundu State hospital,’’ Sakuwa-Neo said.
Sakuwa-Neo reported that two people survived, who were identified as Lydia Hausiku the mother of the deceased children and her granddaughter, Theresia Ihemba and have been discharged from the Nankudu State hospital in Kavango West.
“Samples of the food items were collected and sent to the Laboratory. Investigation continues,” she said.