OTAMANZI – Strangled, stabbed, hacked, gunned down, beheaded, hanged … these are just some the grisly, gruesome methods featured in the media to describe the manner in which more than 10 women lost their lives as a result of ‘passion killings’ over the last three months.
The latest incident of ‘passion killing’ took place in Omusati Region where Helena Shivute was hacked and left with an axe stuck in her head by her boyfriend in a full view of their four-year-old daughter.
The incident happened just a week after the head of Mirijam Tuyakula Nandjato (24) was decapitated from her body by her boyfriend.
Nandjato’s death followed those of other victims whose lives were brutally taken away between December 2013 and February 13, 2014 – all by men who once claimed to love them.
The victims include Felicity Draghoender (22) from //Karas Region who was shot, Martha Dishena (30) from Omusati Region who was stabbed, Adel Gaoses (41) of //Karas Region who was stoned to death, Mindo Viveiros (23) from Zambezi Region who was gunned down, Maria Ndawedwa from Khomas Region who was stabbed to death, and Laina Shimooshili (49) from Ohangwena Region who was shot.
A woman who was not identified in the media was also shot and killed by her boyfriend in Windhoek.
“Go and bury your person, she provoked me for too long, now I am going to kill myself,” were the chilling words contained in an SMS sent after the latest killing by a 28-year-old man to a family member of Helena Shivute, also 28, who has became the latest statistic.
Shivute’s body was later found lying in her bedroom with an axe stuck in her head. A panga, also believed to be one of the murder weapons was also discovered at the bloodstained crime scene.
The brutal murder took place in a full view of the couple’s four-year-old daughter, who later ran to the neighbours to report that her mother was being attacked by her father.
The incident took place on Valentine’s Day eve at Etilyasa Village in the Otamanzi Constituency of the Omusati Region.
The suspect, whose name cannot be revealed as he is still on the run, is believed to be the young woman’s boyfriend from Iikango yaNamwandi
By Helvy Shaanika and Lot Shikongo