Windhoek
A Chinese man living in deplorable conditions at Okahandja Park was seen eating leaves and insects in a riverbed – because he had no food.
Tobias Hainyeko Constituency Councillor Christopher Likuwa confirmed the case and visited the unidentified man after it was brought to his attention by residents of the area. Since the man said he had not eaten for days and had no food, Likuwa provided him with some nourishment.
“He lived in a small shack made out of boards and zinc sheets. He was left alone without food by the owners of the home and this pushed him to go eat leaves and insects,” said Likuwa.
The matter was also reported to the City Police who then took him to the immigration office under the Ministry of Home Affairs and Immigration.
According to the chairperson of Okahandja Park B, Johannes Hamunyera, the plight of the man, who has been staying in the area for about three years, came to light after residents spotted him plucking leaves and collecting insects in a riverbed to eat.
“He was in a bad condition. He was suffering. He has no money,” said Hamunyera who visited the man to acquaint himself with his situation.
Hamunyera said that, according to the Chinese man, he came to Namibia in 1997 and stayed in Mariental and Maltahöhe where he ran a small shop. However, he claimed he was robbed in 2009 and lost everything, including his passport and visa.
He moved to Okahandja Park about three years ago. Hamunyera described the man as lean and softly-spoken.
“You could barely hear what he was saying. He told us he had not eaten for days. Luckily the constituency councillor visited him and gave him food.”
Hamunyera said that after listening to the man’s story, he advised him that he could approach the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in Windhoek for assistance. However, the Chinese national appeared reluctant to do that.