‘Their lives are in danger’

The lives of the six suspects accused of allegedly killing Patrick ‘Waka’ Hawala Hamupunda on Sunday in Katutura, Windhoek, are in danger, according to the police.

Five of the six suspects, Lukas ‘Big Show’ Nghishekwa, Festus ‘Vuxxa’ Nehemia, Kleofas Amutenya, Lukas Andreas and Armani Mvuti, made a brief appearance in the Windhoek Magistrate’s Court in Katutura yesterday afternoon.

“As you can see, there are heavily armed police officers here today because these guys’ lives are in danger. Anything can happen,” said a senior police officer who spoke on condition of anonymity as he was not authorisied to speak to the media.

The officer revealed that the suspects’ lives were in danger because the deceased ‘crew’ is seeking revenge.

The suspects, who appeared before magistrate Johannes Shuuveni, were advised to apply for legal aid because of the seriousness of the case.

“This is a very serious case and it is my duty to advise you accordingly and to let you know that this case might end up in the High Court and we don’t want to waste time. So, my advice to you is to apply for legal aid,” Shuuveni said.

The accused allegedly murdered the deceased after a deal apparently went sour, and in a video that is being widely circulated, Waka was supposed to appear in court today.

According to a source, the accused had planned to kill Waka yesterday.

“There was going to be war between these friends who became big enemies because of a deal where they robbed [sic] a lot of money at Otjiwarongo. So, today [Wednesday] when Waka was to appear for another robbery case, he asked his new ‘crew’ to come with weapons to court, it just so happened he got killed on Sunday”.

Detective chief inspector Simeon Nghilalulwa said that a special operation is on the ground and the police are looking for the last suspect, Wilhelm ‘Lavas’ Modestus.

“We are working around the clock to apprehend him. Whoever is hiding him will be dealt with,” he warned.
He called on members of the public to come forward with any information that might lead to his arrest.

EYEWITNESS IN FEAR

An eyewitness to the killing said she found Waka holding his neck and saw panga wounds on his face and arms.

The witness, who did not want to be identified as she fears for her life, said when she walked out of her room in Mungunda Street in Katutura on Sunday, she saw a man with a gun coming out of the bedroom where Hamupanda was.

“I froze because in the corridor were four guys and the two were in the room, the one had a gun and the other a panga.

They were speaking in Oshiwambo and I could not understand what they were saying, but in the background, I could hear him calling my name. When I got into the room, he was holding his neck. I think he was shot there because he had three panga cuts in his face and both arms,” the eyewitness said.

The suspects were allegedly looking for the owner of the Polo Vivo that was parked on the premises on the day of the murder.
According to the eyewitness, they searched the rental rooms at the premises and found the Waka in one of them.

Subsequently, a dispute broke out, leading to the suspects stabbing and shooting Waka.

According to a source, they were involved in a robbery earlier that did not go according to plan.

“Waka was feared and they (the suspects) were known as the Lovers and Big Show Boys from Hakahana, and he was the chief,” the source said.

A friend of Hamupunda, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said those responsible for his death made sure he would not survive.

“How do you shoot and hack someone with a panga and stab him?”

State prosecutor Tatelo Lusebani asked for the case to be postponed to 28 September. Three of the suspects will be held at the Windhoek Correctional Facility, while one will be held in the Otjomuise Police Station at Wanaheda.