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

EPUKIRO, 14 January 2026 - Epukiro Secondary School's staff celebrates the school's achievement in the Grade 12 NSSCAS results. (Photo: Contributed)

EPUKIRO, 14 January 2026 - Epukiro Secondary School's staff celebrates the school's achievement in the Grade 12 NSSCAS results. (Photo: Contributed)

NAMPA
WINDHOEK, 14 January 2026 - Minister of Education, Innovation, Youth, Sport, Arts and Culture, Sanet Steenkamp pictured during the official announcement of the 2025 NSSCO and NSSCAS examination results in Windhoek. (Photo by: Justina Shuumbwa) NAMPA

WINDHOEK, 14 January 2026 - Minister of Education, Innovation, Youth, Sport, Arts and Culture, Sanet Steenkamp pictured during the official announcement of the 2025 NSSCO and NSSCAS examination results in Windhoek. (Photo by: Justina Shuumbwa) NAMPA

NAMPA
KATIMA MULILO, 13 January 2026 - Deputy Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Land Reform Ruthy Masake speaking at the first Zambezi regional youth indaba here on Tuesday. She is pictured with acting Regional Governor and Kabbe North Constituency Councillor, Bernard Sisamu. (Photo by: Michael Mutonga Liswaniso) NAMPA

KATIMA MULILO, 13 January 2026 - Deputy Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Land Reform Ruthy Masake speaking at the first Zambezi regional youth indaba here on Tuesday. She is pictured with acting Regional Governor and Kabbe North Constituency Councillor, Bernard Sisamu. (Photo by: Michael Mutonga Liswaniso) NAMPA

NAMPA
WINDHOEK, 13 January 2026 - Minister of Education, Innovation, Youth, Sport and Culture, Sanet Steenkamp pictured with some of the top performing learners in the 2025 national examinations. (Photo by: Molly Weyulu) NAMPA

WINDHOEK, 13 January 2026 - Minister of Education, Innovation, Youth, Sport and Culture, Sanet Steenkamp pictured with some of the top performing learners in the 2025 national examinations. (Photo by: Molly Weyulu) NAMPA

NAMPA
RUNDU, 12 January 2026 - Andreas Muyongo Mungongi, who made his first appearance in the Rundu Magistrate’s Court on Monday. (Photo by: Sawi Hausiku) NAMPA

RUNDU, 12 January 2026 - Andreas Muyongo Mungongi, who made his first appearance in the Rundu Magistrate’s Court on Monday. (Photo by: Sawi Hausiku) NAMPA

NAMPA
SWAKOPMUND, 13 January 2026 - Stakeholders attending the five-day SADC Agricultural Information Management Systems (AIMS) workshop, which is being held under the second phase of the support towards the Operationalisation of the SADC Regional Agricultural Policy in Swakopmund. (Photo by: Isabel Bento) NAMPA

SWAKOPMUND, 13 January 2026 - Stakeholders attending the five-day SADC Agricultural Information Management Systems (AIMS) workshop, which is being held under the second phase of the support towards the Operationalisation of the SADC Regional Agricultural Policy in Swakopmund. (Photo by: Isabel Bento) NAMPA

NAMPA
RUNDU, 12 January 2026 - Kavango East Director of Education, Christine Shilima. (Photo by: Sawi Hausiku) NAMPA

RUNDU, 12 January 2026 - Kavango East Director of Education, Christine Shilima. (Photo by: Sawi Hausiku) NAMPA

NAMPA
SWAKOPMUND, 12 January 2026 - Minister of Education, Innovation, Youth, Sport, Arts and Culture Sanet Steenkamp visited several schools in Swakopmund as part of her ministry’s assessment on how schools in Erongo Region were opening and to present the 2025 national examination results to President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah. (Photo by: Isabel Bento) NAMPA

SWAKOPMUND, 12 January 2026 - Minister of Education, Innovation, Youth, Sport, Arts and Culture Sanet Steenkamp visited several schools in Swakopmund as part of her ministry’s assessment on how schools in Erongo Region were opening and to present the 2025 national examination results to President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah. (Photo by: Isabel Bento) NAMPA

NAMPA