Zimbabwean Mother Back In Namibia Court After Daughter, 9, Beaten, Stuffed In Bucket And Set Alight

Zimbabwean Mother Back In Namibia Court Over Daughter’s Bucket Killing

A Zimbabwean mother has returned to court in Namibia six years after her nine-year-old daughter was allegedly beaten unconscious, placed in a bucket and later set alight, in a case that has shocked both Zimbabwe and Namibia.

Rachel Chireva is among three Zimbabwean nationals appearing in a Windhoek court in connection with the death of nine-year-old Akundaishe Natalie Chipomho, who was killed between January 23 and January 25, 2020.

The other accused are Caroline Nkata and Edward Nkata, a Zimbabwean couple who allegedly lived with the child in Namibia at the time.

The trio faces charges including murder, violating a dead body, defeating or attempting to defeat the course of justice, fraud, forgery and contravening Namibia’s Immigration Control Act.

The matter returned to court on Friday, March 27, 2026, as the State continued presenting witness testimony.

Neighbour Testifies About Screams And Alleged Abuse

According to New Era Namibia, a neighbour, Bonita Minnies, told the court she observed disturbing incidents at the accused’s residence before the child’s death.

She described one incident involving another child at the home.

“I observed Edward beating one of the children, a boy, with a belt. He was hitting the young child in a very aggressive and powerful manner,” Minnies testified.

She said the child appeared terrified during the incident.

“I saw the boy sitting behind the door and holding onto Edward’s leg and screaming while he was being beaten,” she told the court.

Minnies also described hearing screams from the house on another occasion.

“We heard the children screaming in the house and Edward talking loudly. It sounded like screams of fear as if they were very scared,” she said.

She added that her late husband later contacted a social worker after the disturbing incident.

Confession Allegedly Reveals Assault

Court proceedings also heard details of a confession allegedly made by Caroline Nkata before a magistrate.

According to prosecutors, she allegedly witnessed Edward Nkata assaulting the child.

“She saw her husband beating the child with his hands and when she tried to stop him, he violently pushed her away and threatened to beat her up as well,” the court heard.

The confession further alleges that Edward later asked for water.

“She gave him a glass of water, which he poured on the child in an attempt to wake her up after she was non-responsive,” prosecutors told the court.

Caroline allegedly told the magistrate that foam was coming from the child’s mouth.

“When she suggested taking the child to hospital, he again threatened her,” the court heard.

The child was then allegedly taken to the garage and left there overnight.

Body Allegedly Burned And Dumped

The prosecution alleges the girl’s body was later transported in a wheelie bin and dumped at a municipal skip before being set alight.

“Chipomho’s body was transported in a wheelie bin to a municipal skip… where it was dumped and set ablaze,” court proceedings revealed.

The State also alleges Rachel Chireva misled police when asked about her daughter’s whereabouts.

She allegedly told investigators that the child was in Zimbabwe with her father.

Prosecutors further allege that Caroline Nkata defrauded Progress Private School of N$6 000 (approximately US$320 / R5 900) by claiming the deceased and another minor were her biological children, allowing them to attend school without paying fees.

The couple is also accused of forging school reports and overstaying in Namibia for seven months after their employment permits expired.

The State is represented by Ethel Ndlovu, while Edward Nkata is represented by Mbanga Siyomunji, Caroline Nkata by Milton Engelbrecht and Rachel Chireva by Joseph Andreas.

The matter continues before the Namibian courts.