Sostenus Wilherm
Independent Patriots for Change (IPC) member of parliament and shadow minister of home affairs, immigration, safety and security Lucia Mbuti has demanded answers over the unsolved rape and murder of 80-year-old Elina Samuel at Omainda village near Omuthiya in December 2022.
In questions submitted to home affairs minister Lucia Ipumbu on Thursday in the national assembly, Mbuti seeks clarity on the investigation, forensic evidence and alleged lack of communication between police and the victim’s family.
Mbuti asked what specific forensic and investigative resources the Namibian Police Force (NamPol) had deployed in the Oshikoto Region to process evidence collected from the crime scene.
She also wants to know the current status of forensic and DNA analysis linked to Samuel’s killing, which remains unsolved, with no suspect arrested nearly four years after the incident.
“What specific forensic and investigative resources have been deployed by NamPol in the Oshikoto Region to process evidence collected from this crime scene, and what is the current status of forensic and DNA analysis linked to this case?” Mbuti asked.
Mbuti raised concerns about reports from the victim’s family of an alleged breakdown in communication with investigating officers, questioning what procedures were in place to ensure relatives of victims of violent crimes received regular updates.
“Given that the victim’s family reports a complete breakdown in communication and feedback from investigating officers, what standard operating procedures exist to ensure regular updates are provided to surviving family members of victims of violent crimes?” she asked.
Her questions come as Samuel’s family continues to seek answers over the killing, which shocked the Omainda community in December 2022.
According to information previously provided by police, Samuel was allegedly raped and attacked with a panga while collecting camel thorn branches near her homestead.
She was reportedly gathering the branches to cover the fence around her house when the attack occurred.
Police spokesperson Chief Inspector Elifas Kuwinga confirmed the incident at the time, saying the pensioner had sustained three cut wounds to her head.
Samuel was reportedly found lying in a pool of blood after the attack.
Her granddaughter, who was four years old at the time, allegedly witnessed the incident. She reportedly saw a man attacking her grandmother before he fled.
Despite the seriousness of the crime and the passage of nearly four years, no suspect has been apprehended, leaving the family without answers about the circumstances surrounding Samuel’s death or the identity of the alleged perpetrator.
Mbuti’s questions seek to establish what investigative steps have been taken since the killing and whether forensic evidence has produced any leads that could help police identify a suspect.
The parliamentarian also turned her attention to police visibility and the protection of elderly residents in rural communities, asking the minister to explain what targeted strategies and resource allocations were being implemented to prevent similar crimes.
“What targeted strategies and resource allocations are being implemented to improve police visibility and protect vulnerable elderly citizens in rural villages such as Omainda against violent crime and GBV?” she asked.
