Namibian national shot dead by police in Mongu during alleged escape bid

A Namibian national has been shot dead by the police in Mongu District of Western Province as he tried to escape arrest for involvement in aggravated robbery.

Mutolwa Masula was reported to have been involved in a series of robberies in Mongu and Senanga Districts using an AK-47 rifle with serial number 125771.

Police Spokesperson, Rae Hamoonga, stated that on July 31, 2024, at approximately 23:00 hours, while being transported from Senanga, Masula requested to relieve himself and subsequently attempted to escape into the bush.

“Despite warning shots fired by the police, he did not stop. In an attempt to disable him, the police fired at Masula, who was unfortunately hit and later pronounced dead upon arrival at Lewanika General Hospital,” Hamoonga said.
He stated that Masula’s body was currently in the mortuary awaiting identification by relatives and a post-mortem examination.

The recovered AK-47 rifle, ammunition and the black winter jacket remained in police custody as exhibits.

“On June 8, 2024, at approximately 03:11 hours, a case of aggravated robbery was reported to Mongu Central Police via a phone call from Lawrence Shamuzumba, aged 45, the Manager at Mongu Total Energies Filling Station,” Hamoonga said.

Hamoonga stated that Shamuzumba indicated that Swana Bibumba, aged 30, a fuel attendant, was attacked by an unknown individual armed with a firearm.

The assailant robbed Bibumba of K1,600 in cash and a black winter jacket valued at K500, totaling property worth K2,100.

“On July 30, 2024, at 16:20 hours, in the Mbuywana area, Mongu police apprehended Mutolwa Masula, aged 36, a Namibian national of unknown abode,” Hamoonga stated.

The police recovered from him an AK-47 rifle with serial number 125772, 10 rounds of live ammunition, and the black winter coat stolen from the fuel attendant.

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Hamoonga stated that brief facts of the matter were that on July 30, 2024, at 11:00 hours, Mongu Central Police received a tip-off from a concerned member of the public.

“The informant reported seeing an individual brandishing an AK-47 rifle at Drop Night Club within Mongu township on July 29, 2024, at around 22:00 hours,” he said.

“Acting on this information, police apprehended Masula, who led the police to the Mbuywana cemetery, where the AK-47 rifle and ammunition were buried,” Hamoonga stated.

He said following interrogation, Masula admitted responsibility for several other aggravated robberies in the province, including the robbery at Puma Filling Station in Senanga and a break-in at PEP Store in Senanga, where he stole multiple mobile phones.

Hamoonga indicated that investigations were ongoing to identify and apprehend any accomplices involved in these crimes.

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