The news that Ananias Nailenge has escape from the police cells at Oshakati Police station did not surprise or shock us as the Nandjato family because we expected something of that nature to happen due to the manner in which the matter is being handled.
We learnt that on the eve of the escape, Nailenge’s uncle, Matheus Hiluwa went to visit him at the police cells where he took him a pair of sunglasses and other items.
We suspect that these were part of the escape plan because since Mirjam’s death, the police, Nailenge family and the judiciary have disappointed us.
Nailenge’s family has been hurting us in the following ways:
During the mourning period they failed to come and share the sad moment with us as per traditional practice, whereby the suspect’s family stay together with the victim’s family until the funeral ends. We did not even ask them for a single cent for expenses during that difficult time.
During the post burial gathering they sent people to represent them who do not know the family or Nailenge’s name.
They never apologised to us about what their child had done.
They hired a private lawyer who came up with the psychological issues, a move to hurt us more.
Now, we suspect they have something to do with the escape plan. How could he escape just after the uncle’s visit?
The police are failing to handle the issue as a sensitive one. Mirjam’s headless body was uploaded on Facebook, a photo that the police spokesperson, Deputy Commissioner Edwin Kanguatjivi, confirmed to me was taken by a female officer at the scene. Now again they let him escape.
The judiciary has been postponing the case, something that could end in the suspect being released because the case has been postponed for so a long time.
As a family we lost somebody who will never come back, no matter the punishment to the perpetrator. Myself as the deceased’s brother, I was happy to hear that he was not right in the head because that is what he deserves instead of just enjoying life in the cells. A mad person cannot escape from jail at all. I am appealing to the police to get him quickly because if we get him before them, we will not be very kind towards him.
Justice must prevail, although that will not heal our wounds. I will never forget or forgive Nailenge. I never attended any of his court cases because I do not want to see him. Let Matheus Hiluwa explain the escape plan.
Ileni Nandjato
Mirjam’s elder brother