Lissony Njembo

Ananias Kandjala, a 37-year-old passenger who was allegedly fainting while travelling from Swakopmund to Ongwediva, and was dropped off at Tsumeb hospital by the bus driver, has now vanished into thin air, without a trace.

Kandjala, who was admitted to Tsumeb State Hospital on 28 December 2025, between 15h00 and 16h00, was reported missing the next day at around 22h00. 

On 28 December 2025, around 18h00, Esther Mayaya, a close relative who lives in Tsumeb, went to visit him. 

According to Mayaya, when she got there, he was on a drip and in bad condition.

“On Monday 29 December 2025, around the same time, I visited Kandjala and was much better. I remember teasing him that he will be discharged on Wednesday,” said Mayaya.

But later, around 22h00 the same day, she received a call from the hospital informing her that Kandjala was nowhere to be found. “I was informed that he attempted to leave the hospital on several occasions, saying that he wanted to go and buy a drink,” added Mayaya.

“The next morning, I went to the hospital, and he was nowhere to be found, although his belongings were there,” said Mayaya.

“He had a cell phone, but it was faulty, because I remember I went to charge it the previous day, but it didn’t charge. His wallet, which contained money, was still there,” said Mayaya. Two days later, Japhet Edward, Kandjala’s uncle, decided to travel to Tsumeb when he heard he was reported missing.

The frustrated Edward narrated that when he reached Tsumeb, he found that the police had not yet started the search. However, Oshikoto police confirmed that they are still searching for Kandjala with the help of the special field force but there are still no leads.  

Edward is pleading with anybody who has information about his whereabouts to contact him on 081 387 4422 or Hilma Sackaria at 081 471 3453.  

– lis24nje@gmail.com