A 30-year-old man was allegedly stabbed to death by his friend after a cell phone row on Saturday evening at Ondjondjo in the Okatana constituency of the Oshana region. The victim was killed during curfew hours whilst they were having drinks at a shebeen.

According to the police spokesperson for Oshana, inspector Thomas Aiyambo, the deceased was stabbed three times in the head, neck and on his left arm.

The police said the victim had not finished paying for the phone, which he had bought from the suspect. “They argued due to unsettled payments,” explained the police.

The suspect is known, but has not been arrested as he fled the scene. A case of murder has been opened against him.

A case of violating Covid-19 regulations has also been opened against the bar owner for operating and selling alcohol on a prohibited day.

Several people who were at the bar at  the time of the murder have been arrested, and likewise charged for violating Covid-19 regulations.

Aiyambo said the deceased and the suspect as well as several other people were allegedly drinking at the back of the bar. The police is therefore urging the public to adhere to Covid-19 regulations.

“If the owner of the bar didn’t open his bar behind, the murder incident would probably not have happened. We are thus appealing to the Namibian nation to respect the law and comply with Covid-19 regulations at all times,” Aiyambo stressed.

He added that the police will not compromise with regards to lawless citizens, especially on those rules intended to curb the spread of the coronavirus in the country. 

– nashipala@nepc.com.na