WALVIS BAY – The man who found a 16-month-old baby on Saturday morning in the dunes in Narraville said he was guided there by divine intervention.
“I was sent to the dunes with a purpose,” said Meruune Tutjavi, a petrol attendant who found the baby girl left in the dunes by her mother, Wilhelmina Ndapewa Abed (24).
From the onset, both police and social workers indicated that the baby was well taken care of and in a healthy state.
Tutjavi went to the dunes on Saturday morning to relieve himself when he heard a familiar sound coming from the dunes. He immediately knew it was a child. He walked towards the dunes, and noticed a blanket with some movement underneath it.
“That is when I realised it was indeed a baby. I could not find the number of the police, so I called my partner, who forwarded the number. Still in disbelief,” he said. Another man joined him after noticing the baby.
“The man went to the police station while I stayed with the baby. It was such a relief that she was alive. I was so happy and shocked at the same time. How could someone do this? I would have loved to adopt her, although I am not financially stable,” he said.
He is appealing to Namibians not to judge the young woman but rather pray for her as it is hard to be a single parent.
“I also had been unemployed for a long time, and it was very hard on me. Not knowing where to sleep, what to eat, or even taking care of children can sometimes lead us into making bad decisions.”
Meanwhile, spokesperson for the Namibian Police Ileni Shapumba on Sunday said it is still not clear what the mother's motives were, and why she chose to leave her baby in the dunes.
Shapumba said the little girl was clean,
as well as warmly dressed.
“Her overall appearance is excellent, and one could see that she was well taken care of. She was wrapped in a warm blanket and had additional nappies with her. She had no physical injuries, and no documents were found on her,” he added.
The baby is currently being cared for at a house of safety.
Meanwhile, Abed, who was arrested
on Saturday shortly after her daughter was found, yesterday made her first appearance in the Walvis Bay Magistrate’s Court.
She is charged with Child Abandonment under the Childcare and Protection Act. Abed will remain in police custody for now, and her case was postponed to 18 June for further investigation.