Independence weekend claims four in drowning incidents

NAMPA
2025-03-24
The Namibian Police Force logo The Namibian Police Force logo
WINDHOEK, 24 MAR (NAMPA) - A 37-year-old man allegedly drowned in a water pan at Ondado village on Sunday, the Namibian Police Force (NamPol) has reported.
NamPol spokesperson, Chief Inspector Elifas Kuwinga, said the deceased, identified as Salomo Akudhenga, was last seen in Olumbongo location at Oniipa Friday night.
“His family members reported him as missing at Onethindi Police Station Saturday evening. On Sunday, they started looking for him and eventually found his body floating in a water pan behind Okamwandi King service station near Olumbongo location, where he was last seen drinking marula drinks,” Kuwinga said.
Akudhenga’s body has been taken to the Onandjokwe State Hospital mortuary, where a postmortem was carried out.
Meanwhile, a 20-year-old man’s body was discovered in a river on Sunday evening at Farm Lekkerwater in the Kunene Region. The deceased, identified as Vivien Hamaseb, is suspected to have drowned between 18 March 2025 and 23 March 2025.
He allegedly left the farm for a neighbouring farm on 18 March, but did not reach the neighbouring farm. His next of kin are informed and police investigations continue.
In a separate incident, a 24-year-old Angolan goat herder drowned at Otjiperengo village near Sesfontein between Saturday and Sunday.
“He did not return with the goats and when other villagers went to search for him, they only found his clothes next to the waterhole. On Sunday they went back and managed to retrieve the body. No foul play is suspected at this stage,” Kuwinga said.
His next of kin are yet to be informed.
In Opuwo, Angolan national Kauendera Ruvandu drowned around 18h20 on Sunday after attempting to cross a river during heavy rains at Orutjandja location. His age is yet to be determined, the police said.
No foul play is suspected at this stage.
(NAMPA)
EB/AS

Latest NAMPA photos

WINDHOEK, 05 February 2026 - President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah pictured with Chief Justice Peter Shivute and judicial officers. (Photo by: Eba Kandovazu) NAMPA

WINDHOEK, 05 February 2026 - President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah pictured with Chief Justice Peter Shivute and judicial officers. (Photo by: Eba Kandovazu) NAMPA

NAMPA
WINDHOEK, 04 February 2026 - Minister of Industries, Mines and Energy, Modestus Amutse. (Photo by: Andreas Thomas) NAMPA

WINDHOEK, 04 February 2026 - Minister of Industries, Mines and Energy, Modestus Amutse. (Photo by: Andreas Thomas) NAMPA

NAMPA
KATIMA MULILO, 05 February 2026 - Katima Mulilo Police Station Commander, Chief Inspector Charles Mayumbelo pictured during a media conference on Thursday. (Photo: Michael Mutonga Liswaniso) NAMPA

KATIMA MULILO, 05 February 2026 - Katima Mulilo Police Station Commander, Chief Inspector Charles Mayumbelo pictured during a media conference on Thursday. (Photo: Michael Mutonga Liswaniso) NAMPA

NAMPA
KATIMA MULILO, 05 February 2026 - Katima Mulilo Police Station Commander, Chief Inspector Charles Mayumbelo pictured during a media conference on Thursday. (Photo: Michael Mutonga Liswaniso) NAMPA

KATIMA MULILO, 05 February 2026 - Katima Mulilo Police Station Commander, Chief Inspector Charles Mayumbelo pictured during a media conference on Thursday. (Photo: Michael Mutonga Liswaniso) NAMPA

NAMPA
SWAKOPMUND, 04 February 2026 - The head coach of Libya's senior national futsal team, Abdulbasit Alnaas, relays instructions to his players during their match against Namibia in the 2026 Morocco CAF Futsal AFCON qualifiers at The Dome in Swakopmund. Namibia lost the match 3-11. (Photo by: Hesron Kapanga) NAMPA

SWAKOPMUND, 04 February 2026 - The head coach of Libya's senior national futsal team, Abdulbasit Alnaas, relays instructions to his players during their match against Namibia in the 2026 Morocco CAF Futsal AFCON qualifiers at The Dome in Swakopmund. Namibia lost the match 3-11. (Photo by: Hesron Kapanga) NAMPA

NAMPA
SWAKOPMUND, 04 February 2026 - The head coach of Libya's senior national futsal team, Abdulbasit Alnaas, relays instructions to his players during their match against Namibia in the 2026 Morocco CAF Futsal AFCON qualifiers at The Dome in Swakopmund. Namibia lost the match 3-11. (Photo by: Hesron Kapanga) NAMPA

SWAKOPMUND, 04 February 2026 - The head coach of Libya's senior national futsal team, Abdulbasit Alnaas, relays instructions to his players during their match against Namibia in the 2026 Morocco CAF Futsal AFCON qualifiers at The Dome in Swakopmund. Namibia lost the match 3-11. (Photo by: Hesron Kapanga) NAMPA

NAMPA
SWAKOPMUND, 04 February 2026 - The head coach of Namibia's senior men’s futsal team, Marcos Antunes (right) and George Haikali pictured during the Brave Fives match against Libya in the 2026 CAF Futsal AFCON qualifiers at The Dome in Swakopmund. Namibia lost the match 3-11 in the first leg of their round two CAF qualifiers. (Photo by: Hesron Kapanga) NAMPA

SWAKOPMUND, 04 February 2026 - The head coach of Namibia's senior men’s futsal team, Marcos Antunes (right) and George Haikali pictured during the Brave Fives match against Libya in the 2026 CAF Futsal AFCON qualifiers at The Dome in Swakopmund. Namibia lost the match 3-11 in the first leg of their round two CAF qualifiers. (Photo by: Hesron Kapanga) NAMPA

NAMPA
SWAKOPMUND, 04 February 2026 - The head coach of Namibia's senior men's futsal team, Marcos Antunes, relays instructions to the players during their match against Libya in the 2026 CAF Futsal AFCON qualifiers at The Dome in Swakopmund on Wednesday. (Photo by: Hesron Kapanga) NAMPA

SWAKOPMUND, 04 February 2026 - The head coach of Namibia's senior men's futsal team, Marcos Antunes, relays instructions to the players during their match against Libya in the 2026 CAF Futsal AFCON qualifiers at The Dome in Swakopmund on Wednesday. (Photo by: Hesron Kapanga) NAMPA

NAMPA