Teen witness comes clean in Rundu stabbing
Claims he clammed up from fear
A friend of the deceased told a traditional court that he had been present during the attack, despite previously denying it.
A key witness in the Paulus Kahili (17) murder case, 16-year-old John Mbango (not his real name), has admitted that he lied to traditional authorities about his presence at the scene in Rundu’s industrial area on 14 March.
The case took a turn when 16-year-old John Mbango (not his real name) was summoned to appear before the Shambyu Traditional Authority for a third time last week.
While his initial police statement confirmed he was present during the attack, he falsely claimed in his first two appearances before the traditional court that he was not at the scene of the deadly attack. It was only during his third appearance that he told the truth.
Standing before headwoman Rabanna Siremo and a panel of elders, Mbango finally broke his silence: “My friend had the phone when we were approached by the two suspects, Joackim Kanyanga and Mario Asake. One of them grabbed him from behind while the other stabbed him in the chest. I ran away when it happened, but I saw it all.”
He also admitted that a blue schoolbag found at the scene – which he had previously denied owning – was his and even bore his name.
“I was scared. Social media and people in my community were accusing me of killing my friend. I didn’t want to attend the burial because I felt guilty. He was my close friend, and it hurt to lie to adults,” he explained.
Mbango described how Kahili collapsed to his knees and cried out “nane, nane” (mother, mother) before taking his last breath.
Pressed by the headwoman on why he had initially stayed silent, Mbango said: “I didn’t want people to see me as a criminal."
He also stressed that he is not associated with Kanyanga and does not know him personally, despite claims that they once attended the same school.
The mother of Kanyanga supported Mbango’s account by revealing that her son confessed to her about his role in the incident. She also noted that her son told her he had attended school with Mbango.
Day in court
According to her, Kanyanga was manipulated by his co-accused, Asake, who had previously been linked to another stabbing incident.
She recounted how her son told her that Asake’s aunt had given him N$10 to help Asake settle a taxi fare at a local service station on the morning of the murder.
This, she said, allegedly set off the chain of events that led to the tragedy.
“My son told me that Kaka [Asake] asked him to wait while he went to the bushes, but instead they approached Paulus and his friend. My son greeted the boys because he knew one of them, Mbango. Moments later, Kaka followed Paulus and stabbed him. The blood sprayed on his shirt,” she said.
She also claimed Asake manipulated her son and used the schoolbag to hide the bloodstained shirt. She said she reported everything to the police and informed a traditional council member. Her decision to report her son has since sparked conflict. “His brother came to our house, insulted us, and even threatened to kill us. He said, ‘How dare you report my laitie (younger brother)?’”
Family conflict
During the same traditional court session, Asake’s uncle addressed the elders with a searing account of his nephew’s character. “This boy is my brother’s son. I raised him like my own," he said.
But he added: "He is known as a troublemaker in our community. He steals. He grabs people’s phones, even electrical cables. Everyone knows him for that.”
Asake's uncle also told the traditional authority representatives: “On that day, in the morning around eight, he stole someone’s phone and stabbed them. The police were chasing him from that moment. Then in the afternoon, around four or five, he killed the person we’re here to talk about.”
The feud between the two families has reportedly deepened in the aftermath of the killing.
Legal mandate
According to the headwoman, Mbango is now expected to appear before the chief of the Shambyu council later this week.
While not facing legal charges, he may be subject to customary restitution for withholding the truth. If found guilty in the traditional setting, he could be ordered to pay a fine of 12 cattle or N$7 000 to the bereaved family.
In a telephone interview with Namibian Sun, Kavango East Deputy Commissioner Bonifatius Kanyetu clarified the traditional court’s role: “The traditional authority can only question and record such proceedings. They have no legal mandate to try murder cases. But such records can later be used as mitigation during formal court trials, especially if restitution or community support was offered to the bereaved family.”
The primary suspects, Asake (18) and Kanyanga (17), have been remanded in custody and are scheduled to appear in court on 13 May.
The case took a turn when 16-year-old John Mbango (not his real name) was summoned to appear before the Shambyu Traditional Authority for a third time last week.
While his initial police statement confirmed he was present during the attack, he falsely claimed in his first two appearances before the traditional court that he was not at the scene of the deadly attack. It was only during his third appearance that he told the truth.
Standing before headwoman Rabanna Siremo and a panel of elders, Mbango finally broke his silence: “My friend had the phone when we were approached by the two suspects, Joackim Kanyanga and Mario Asake. One of them grabbed him from behind while the other stabbed him in the chest. I ran away when it happened, but I saw it all.”
He also admitted that a blue schoolbag found at the scene – which he had previously denied owning – was his and even bore his name.
“I was scared. Social media and people in my community were accusing me of killing my friend. I didn’t want to attend the burial because I felt guilty. He was my close friend, and it hurt to lie to adults,” he explained.
Mbango described how Kahili collapsed to his knees and cried out “nane, nane” (mother, mother) before taking his last breath.
Pressed by the headwoman on why he had initially stayed silent, Mbango said: “I didn’t want people to see me as a criminal."
He also stressed that he is not associated with Kanyanga and does not know him personally, despite claims that they once attended the same school.
The mother of Kanyanga supported Mbango’s account by revealing that her son confessed to her about his role in the incident. She also noted that her son told her he had attended school with Mbango.
Day in court
According to her, Kanyanga was manipulated by his co-accused, Asake, who had previously been linked to another stabbing incident.
She recounted how her son told her that Asake’s aunt had given him N$10 to help Asake settle a taxi fare at a local service station on the morning of the murder.
This, she said, allegedly set off the chain of events that led to the tragedy.
“My son told me that Kaka [Asake] asked him to wait while he went to the bushes, but instead they approached Paulus and his friend. My son greeted the boys because he knew one of them, Mbango. Moments later, Kaka followed Paulus and stabbed him. The blood sprayed on his shirt,” she said.
She also claimed Asake manipulated her son and used the schoolbag to hide the bloodstained shirt. She said she reported everything to the police and informed a traditional council member. Her decision to report her son has since sparked conflict. “His brother came to our house, insulted us, and even threatened to kill us. He said, ‘How dare you report my laitie (younger brother)?’”
Family conflict
During the same traditional court session, Asake’s uncle addressed the elders with a searing account of his nephew’s character. “This boy is my brother’s son. I raised him like my own," he said.
But he added: "He is known as a troublemaker in our community. He steals. He grabs people’s phones, even electrical cables. Everyone knows him for that.”
Asake's uncle also told the traditional authority representatives: “On that day, in the morning around eight, he stole someone’s phone and stabbed them. The police were chasing him from that moment. Then in the afternoon, around four or five, he killed the person we’re here to talk about.”
The feud between the two families has reportedly deepened in the aftermath of the killing.
Legal mandate
According to the headwoman, Mbango is now expected to appear before the chief of the Shambyu council later this week.
While not facing legal charges, he may be subject to customary restitution for withholding the truth. If found guilty in the traditional setting, he could be ordered to pay a fine of 12 cattle or N$7 000 to the bereaved family.
In a telephone interview with Namibian Sun, Kavango East Deputy Commissioner Bonifatius Kanyetu clarified the traditional court’s role: “The traditional authority can only question and record such proceedings. They have no legal mandate to try murder cases. But such records can later be used as mitigation during formal court trials, especially if restitution or community support was offered to the bereaved family.”
The primary suspects, Asake (18) and Kanyanga (17), have been remanded in custody and are scheduled to appear in court on 13 May.
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