WINDHOEK – Eight people died from various incidents including murder, suicide and road accidents in two days over the weekend in the Khomas Region.

Between 1am and 2am on Sunday morning, a break-in was reported at the house of former Member of Parliament, Nora Schimming-Chase, in Klein Windhoek.

The former MP was not home, however her son was awake and heard the noise of people in the house.  The son lives in a flat adjacent to the house, according to Nampol’s Khomas Region Deputy Commissioner, Sylvanus Nghishindimbwa.
Upon the police’s arrival at the house, a taxi was seen speeding off into Robert Mugabe Avenue.

Another police vehicle spotted the taxi and pursued the vehicle along Independence Avenue until it came to a stop at the traffic lights at the turnoff to Okahandja before Katutura Hospital.
Five people jumped out of the taxi and ran in different directions. One suspect was shot dead during the chase and three suspects were arrested while another managed to escape.

According to Nghishindimbwa, all stolen items were found in the taxi including a safe, a flat screen television and other valuables, which were all identified by Schimming-Chase’s son.

The former MP was expected to make further identifications of her belongings at the police station yesterday, after travelling back from her farm.

“Jewellery was found in the deceased’s possession. However, the arrested suspects claim not to know him,” said Nghishindimbwa.
He said the suspect who ran away would be caught soon because police investigators already know his identity.
The deputy commissioner could not say what the estimated value of the stolen goods were.

However, he added that one of the suspects was on bail in connection with a previous housebreaking case that was reported in February this year.

He further elaborated that the suspects broke into the house using bolt-cutters to cut the burglar bars.  These bolt-cutters were found in the get-away taxi.

The three suspects are expected to appear in the Windhoek Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday.
A murder case was opened against the police by the police, while investigations continue, according to Nghishindimbwa. However, no police officer has been arrested for the death.

In an unrelated case, 37-year-old Otto Lehmann was beaten to death with a stone by a 27-year-old man on Saturday, June 30.
Nampol’s Nghishindimbwa explained that the two had an argument after they had been drinking together at a drinking hole at Groot Aub.

“The deceased tried to stab the suspect with a knife, however the suspect took a stone and hit the deceased,” he said, adding that Lehmann died instantly.

The suspect is expected to appear in the Rehoboth Magistrate’s Court today on a charge of murder.  Furthermore, three people died on the spot after a BMW they were travelling in overturned near Okahandja (see other story on this page).

An accident claimed the life of one taxi driver and seriously injured three passengers after the taxi collided head-on with a Bantam bakkie at the Western Bypass and Sam Nujoma Drive junction early Sunday morning between 4am and 5 am.

The driver of the Bantam bakkie who was alone also sustained serious injuries.

In another accident, which occurred on Sunday afternoon between Okahandja and Windhoek, 45-year-old Andre Benade lost his life after his bakkie overturned near the Namwater premises on the Okahandja Road.
Nghishindimbwa explained that the driver lost control of his vehicle and rammed into a tree.

Thirty-four-year-old Hilaria Mundonga was found hanging in her shack in Havana on Saturday afternoon.
Nghishindimbwa elaborated that Mundonga might have committed suicide after she heard allegations that her husband was cheating on her.