Zambezi pupil fighting for his life after attack over N$20

A grade 10 pupil from Simataa Secondary School is in and out of hospital after suffering severe injuries in an alleged assault over an unpaid N$20 debt to another pupil. Matengu Lubasi’s life changed on 23 March when Grade 12 pupil Sinyama Simataa, together with three boys, grabbed him and took him into a hostel room, where they allegedly assaulted him. It’s alleged that Simataa (25) assaulted Lubasi (19) while the others held him down.

Lubasi owed Simataa N$20 and could not pay it back. The assault left Lubasi with a severe spinal cord injury; he has difficulty breathing, and his vision comes and goes. Lubasi’s stepfather, Kamwi Mbeha, told The Namibian yesterday that Lubasi had asked Simataa to wait until the end of the Easter weekend, saying he would get money from his parents to pay him back.

However, Simataa refused to listen and allegedly beat Lubasi into unconsciousness. “My son only remembers waking up in his own room and in pain. A supervising teacher came in later to ask what happened, and he was taken to the clinic.