Man nabbed after bow-and-arrow murder

A man (51) was arrested on Saturday at Tjeye village in the Kavango East region after he allegedly shot and killed another man with a bow and arrow.

The suspect was arrested after allegdly shooting Maseka Sihami, his drinking partner, in the chest.

Sihami died at the scene.

Kavango East crime investigations coordinator deputy commissioner Bonifatius Kanyetu says the incident took place at around 19h00.

He says the suspect and Sihami were allegedly drinking at a shebeen when they had an argument.

“The deceased left the shebeen after they were stopped by people who were drinking with them, and the suspect also left to go home.

“On their way home, they started again and the suspect had a bow and arrow, and then shot the deceased in the left side of his chest, who died on the spot,” Kanyetu says.

Sihami was a resident of Tjeye village in the Mashare constituency.

His body was taken to the Rundu state mortuary for a post-mortem, while police investigations continue, Kanyetu says.
Kanyetu says the incident is a gang-related matter due to gang rivalry at neighbouring villages.

“We are faced with a problem at Utokota, Tjeye, Mashare and Muroro. There are gang fights happening at these villages. Like these two, there was a meeting held recently by the two families to resolve their differences, but when they met at the shebeen, they clashed and the issue started again,” he says.

Kanyetu says the abuse of alcohol, especially whisky which is smuggled in from Angola, is also problematic.
“We are looking at how we are going to police this area and try to regulate shebeens with the assistance of the headmen of these areas.

“We are also going to have meetings with these villages to denounce this behaviour.”

He says village rivalry does not involve young people only, and that elders are also engaged in fighting.

People should provide the police with information, Kanyetu urges.

Being a witness does not imply reporting individuals, he says.

“Like with this incident, everyone wants to distance themselves, saying they did not see anything. People should come out and assist the police,” he pleads.