A gruesome double murder has rocked Kayeura village in Kavango West, where two elderly pensioners were brutally killed with an axe this afternoon in what police suspect may be linked to witchcraft accusations within the family.
According to a police report, the shocking attack occurred around 13:25 today. The suspect, a 27-year-old man believed to be the grandson of the victims, allegedly struck 79-year-old Clemens Hamukwaya and 84-year-old Maria Mukuve several times at the back of their necks with an axe, killing them instantly.
The man was arrested shortly after the incident and remains in custody. He is expected to appear in court next week on charges of double murder and domestic violence.
Police say the motive is still under investigation, but preliminary findings suggest a possible connection to internal family disputes involving witchcraft allegations.
This horrifying crime comes amid heightened national debate surrounding Namibia’s outdated witchcraft legislation. The Witchcraft Suppression Proclamation of 1933 has recently come under renewed scrutiny, with growing calls for urgent reforms to protect vulnerable groups from abuse and exploitation.
A formal proposal submitted to the Ministry of Justice in May seeks to repeal the colonial-era law. Activists argue the law has failed to prevent the mistreatment of elderly people, persons with disabilities, and individuals suffering from mental illnesses such as dementia—many of whom face accusations of witchcraft in rural communities.
“The current law is not only ineffective but also leaves many people unprotected,” said a human rights advocate familiar with the reform proposal.
Police have assured the public that investigations into the Kayeura tragedy are ongoing and that justice will be pursued.
