ONGWEDIVA- An Angolan boy said he killed and buried his cousin in their homestead because he threatened to report him for smoking dagga.

The suspect (17) was arrested on Monday at their homestead where the incident happened at Omeyantalala village in the Oshikoto region. He was denied bail when he appeared in the Ondangwa Magistrate’s Court yesterday.

His case has been postponed to 2 October 2023 for further police investigations.

He could not be named as he is under the legal age limit.

When New Era visited the scene, the suspect admitted to having murdered his cousin Tchilondilo Walumbula (24) by hitting him with a hoe handle and burying the remains in a shallow grave in their homestead.

The suspect narrated that he was smoking dagga before he hit Walumbula and he had the intention to kill.

“It was around 21h00 when we finished eating our dinner. I took a hoe handle and hit him on the neck and he fell,” he narrated.

Eventually, he said he hit Walumbula three times on the head until he died.

“Immediately, I dug a hole and wrapped the body in a blanket, and buried him,” he added.

According to the suspect, the following day, he went to the cuca shops with the deceased’s cell phone and wearing his clothes.

“I also killed Walumbula because I always wanted his smart cell phone,” he added.

Oshikoto police spokesperson Ellen Nehale said the deceased and the suspect are both Angolan nationals and they were employed as domestic workers.

Nehale said the victim warned the suspect not to continue smoking, as they had been instructed by their employer to refrain from doing so.

Shocked neighbour, Ndinelao Shiwedha narrated that Walumbula had been missing for three days and this brought them some suspicions.

“We then approached the suspect and questioned him about where his cousin was. He told us Walumbula went to Windhoek where he got a job as a security guard,” Shiwedha narrated.

She stressed that they didn’t believe the suspect because they knew Walumbula couldn’t leave the house without notifying them as neighbours.

She said they were worried when the suspect was wearing Walumbula’s clothes and also using his smartphone at the cuca shops.

“We are very close to Walumbula. He is our good neighbour,” she added.

Shiwedha said the victim has been working from that homestead for five years while the suspect was just recruited this year.

Another neighbour Ndemoongela Philipus said he approached the suspect and promised to give him N$500 if he tells the truth about where Walumbula is.

“The suspect told us he killed Walumbula and buried him. He took us to the site where he buried him and later we informed the police.” 

He added that the suspect allegedly used to abuse weed and whiskey that he collects from Angola.

“This year, the suspect killed a goat and a dog, which he also buried in their homestead. When we questioned him, he said he was instructed by the traditional healer,” Philipus said.

Neighbours described Walumbula as a peaceful, courteous and hard-working man who is always willing to assist elders in the village.

- fhamalwa@nepc.com.na