RUNDU – The Namibian Police are seeking public assistance in the apprehension of culprit/s who shot and killed a teenager on the streets of Rundu last week. 

Alpo Malaka Spilikita was allegedly killed in cold blood after he was shot in the chest at Millennium Park residential area on 22 September. 

Spilikita, a grade 10 learner at Rundu Senior Secondary School and a resident of Tutungeni location was shot while
strolling in the street at 22h00.

No one has been arrested. 

Kavango East Crime Investigations Coordinator, Deputy Commissioner Bonifatius Kanyetu is pleading with the public to come forth with any information that may lead to the arrest of the culprit/s in the matter.

He said, so far there are no witnesses and the police have not established any lead. 

The police however received a petition from the public on Thursday.

“This petition is drafted in a way that it is clearly understood, you must understand that just recently, we had a shooting incident in Mabushe where an elderly pensioner was killed and his wife injured, it should go back to you the community. The assistance and cooperation that I had with the community of Mabushe as I led that investigation was very good and it led to the arrest of the suspects involved and the recovery of the murder weapon,’’ said Kanyetu. 

He said through the successful cooperation with the community, the suspects who have since been denied bail were brought to book. 

“But that took place at a rural setup homestead where the homesteads are far from each other but this one happened in a close proximity of people. We are hard at work starting from the time that you saw my investigators on the ground in the search of exhibits and leads and are still carrying on,” he said.

 “It is so sad, Spilikita is a person I also knew personally and I know what type of a child he was, and therefore I concur with your wordings on your posters, ‘justice for Malaka’…. This incident took place within our community. The eyes that the police have is you and if we stand together like we are saying and not pretend, we will get justice together,’’ Kanyetu said. 

He said the police is working tirelessly on the case and will be providing updates if there are any to the public.

“Spilikita was more than just a name. He was a beacon of hope and a symbol of the dreams we cherish for our youth. His smile radiated warmth, and his dreams were as vast as the open sky. He was a son, a brother, a friend, and a beloved member of our community. His untimely death has left a void that can never be filled, a void that serves as a painful reminder of the urgent need for justice,’’ said Moses Shikerete, a youth activist who read the petition on behalf of the aggrieved community. 

Shikerete said they gathered to hand over their petition to seek justice and not vengeance.

“We understand that investigations are underway, but we implore you to expedite this process, leaving no stone unturned. We yearn for the truth to come to light, for accountability to be upheld, and for those responsible for this heinous act to face the full force of the law. The darkness of injustice must be pierced by the light of truth,” said Shikerete.   - jmuyamba@nepc.com.na