Another Zimbabwean nabbed for murder in Namibia
NAMIBIAN Police (Nampol) have arrested another Zimbabwean for the alleged murder of his friend in a dispute over Namibian $20 in Oshakati area.
Legton Meki (41), who went on the run on Sunday after allegedly fatally assaulting Botham Chipuriro (51) with a brick in the head was arrested on Monday afternoon as he tried to escape to Zimbabwe.
The police said the suspect was picked up while walking along the Ohangwena-Eenhana main road. Nampol spokesperson responsible for community affairs division Warrant Officer Frieda Shikole told the media that the incident occurred around 1140pm.
“Indications are that the two Zimbabweans (both male) were passengers in a taxi they hired from Ondangwa. Along the way, the suspect paid the taxi fee on behalf of the deceased, but the driver gave the change to the wrong man and an argument ensued,” said Warrant Officer Shikole.
He said the argument resulted in a fistfight between the two men when they got to their destination. During the fight, Meki allegedly picked a brick and repeatedly assaulted his compatriot in the face and head. He then disappeared from the crime scene on foot.
According to the police, the suspect has been detained at the Ondobe Police Station pending transportation to Oshakati where he will be charged and tried for murder.
The incident comes a few days after three Zimbabweans were arrested for killing, mutilating and burning the body of a nine-year-old girl in Windhoek. Two of the accused persons Rachel Kureva, the mother of the minor, and Caroline Nkata have since appeared in the Windhoek magistrate court charged with murder, obstructing the ends of justice and violating a dead body.
They were remanded in custody to April 17 for trial, while another suspect Edward Nkata is yet to be charged and recuperating from the hospital under police guard.
Edward was injured after a vehicle transporting him from Otjiwarongo to Windhoek was involved in a road traffic accident.
Takunda Maodza
EFFORTS to relocate victims of Cyclone Idai still living in tents have gathered pace, with Chimanimani Rural District Council now completing the pegging of stands at Nhedziwa Growth Point.
Hundreds of victims of the cyclone which ravaged Chimanimani and Chipinge last March are still living in tents, and resource constraints have slowed down their relocation.
Government has repaired roads and bridges that were destroyed by the tropical cyclone after it issued 21 contracts last August.
New Chimanimani District Development Coordinator Mr Joseph Manyurapasi said they were forging ahead with plans to relocate the victims to safer areas.
“The pegging of stands has been completed. The local authority is now putting in road infrastructure.
“We anticipate that by end of this month, the local authority would have drilled a borehole. There is also a component of sanitation,” he said.
When asked on the numbers likely to be moved to Nhedziwa, Mr Manyurapasi said: “Some are not comfortable being relocated to Nhedziwa, and not all people living in tents are supposed to be allocated residential stands. Some had bought stands from the local authority and had paid for them in full.
“Some in tents had no properties, and these will be given priority so that they have shelter.
“However, we are still to carry out a final verification exercise,” he added.
Three sites have been identified as possible relocation areas for the cyclone victims. These are Greenmount, the Flats and Nhedziwa.
Lay out plans had been done by September last year. According to the plans, Nhedziwa will have 633 residential stands, 18 commercial, nine institutional and 12 industrial.
Earlier plans were that Government and its partners were going to build houses for the cyclone victims.
Those with capacity to build their own houses will now be given residential stands at such places as Nhedziwa.