Otjiwarongo: Two members of the Namibian Defence Force (NDF) were found dead on Thursday and Friday night at military bases in Otjiwarongo and Otavi in the Otjozondjupa Region. Namibian Police Force (NamPol) head of community affairs in the region, Senior Inspector Maureen Mbeha, provided details of the incidents.

According to Namibia Press Agency, the deceased were identified as 27-year-old Jonas Kambonde and Patrick Kopper, 30. Mbeha reported that Kambonde allegedly committed suicide by shooting himself in the head with an AK-47 rifle on Friday night around 20h10 at the Otjiwarongo military base. In a separate incident, Kopper was allegedly found hanging inside an old toilet on Thursday morning at approximately 08h30 at the Otavi military base.

Mbeha explained that Kambonde was on duty at the time of the incident and was discovered by a colleague lying inside his room at the barracks. Kopper, who was attached to the Engineering Regiment at the Otavi military base, had not been seen since 25 May 2026 and was found on 28 May 2026 hanging from the roof of the toilet by colleagues at the base. His body was in a decomposed state and was transported to the Otjiwarongo police mortuary.

The two reportedly did not leave suicide notes, and no foul play is suspected at this stage. Police investigations are ongoing.