Paulus Shilongo (38) was apparently drunk when he was hit by a car while strolling down the tarred road near the Khorixas Magistrates Court last Saturday. The car was driven by Markus Uxams (25) who was on his way from Jabulani Store to the youth hall where a wedding reception was being held at the time.

“I was standing and chatting with a friend of mine and the next thing I just heard a noise. When I turned around the car was going off the road,” narrated one eye-witness, who identified herself as Lautfika. Paulus was walking with Lautfika when the car crashed into him around 20h00.
When Informanté arrived at the scene Shilongo was still on the ground begging for help, where he lay next to his bag and the blue car involved in the accident still had its lights on. Dozens of curious residents stood around nervously.
The Khorixas State Hospital ambulance arrived about 30 minutes after the ordeal as it had to go to Kamanjab to fetch another patient; The 38-year old was taken to the hospital by police officers in Khorixas Station Commander Nuuyoma’s Toyota.
“The area has to be de-bushed. Pedestrians are too scared to walk near the trees at night as there might be snakes in the area,” Uxams told Informanté at the scene. “The man was walking in the road and I tried to slow my vehicle, but it was very late,” he said. The 25-year old driver was taken to the police station where an accident report was drafted.
Residents have called for a speed-bump to be constructed in the area where the man was hit or for a speed-limit sign to be put up to prevent  further loss of life. Informanté was told by a nurse that Shilongo was taken to Outjo for an X-ray on Tuesday.
A criminal case was opened, but the Khorixas police refused to comment on the case as it is still under investigation.

Clemans Miyanicwe is a freelance community reporter