Zebaldt Ngaruka
EPUKIRO – A devastating fire left a 75-year-old pensioner, Kuveri Antoinette Kamahene, homeless after it destroyed her house in Epukiro constituency’s Otjombundiro village last week.
The pensioner was alone when the devastation occurred.
She told New Era that she was cooking outside the house, and went to collect spices inside her house when she felt a strange heat warming her dress.
“This is where I noticed that my dress was burning. I stopped the fire, and went outside to continue with my cooking. After a few minutes, I noticed smoke, accompanied by flames coming out of the house,” she recalled.
She added that the incident happened so fast, and she suspects that a blaze from her dress might have caused the fire.
“This was a shocking incident. I was alone, and could not do anything. My neighbours and fellow villagers tried their best to kill the fire, but it was too late, and it was windy,” she said.
On that fateful day, she had also received her pension money at the neighbouring Ozombouvapa’s pay point, most of which also went up in flames.
“This is a big loss. I lost all my property, and l am only left with these clothes that I am wearing. My grandchildren who live here with me also lost everything. Even the one who is at school lost his clothes,” she lamented.
About five people live in the house.
“Luckily, they were not around when the fire occurred, and perhaps the worst could have happened,” she said.
The now-homeless pensioner is left with nothing, and the food she bought at the pay-point also burned in the house, including cash.
“Luckily, my identity card is with my children in Windhoek – but painfully, my Bible, new voter’s card, pension card, N$ 1 200 cash and the necessary documents are all gone,” she cried.
The only remaining item in the three-bedroom house was an iron bed, but all the beddings burned to ashes.
Despite the loss, Kamahene told this publication that what pains her most was her tailoring machine, which also burned to the ground.
“This machine is where I made a living from, in addition to pension money. I am a tailor, and I wonder how I will survive without my machine, which also keeps me busy at home,” she said.
Among other items lost is the building equipment of her two grandchildren, who are builders.
“These are all gone. My sons are well-known builders in the area, and I do not know how they will cope with this situation… the new paint we bought recently also burned in the house,” she added.
When this publication visited the area, we found a house made of cow dung, which the senior citizen said could not even accommodate the family of five.
“I am thankful to my fellow villagers for comforting me during this difficult period. I appreciate their prompt response even though everything is destroyed,” she said.
She has since appealed to good Samaritans to assist with whatever they can to get the family back on their feet.
Meanwhile, Epukiro constituency councillor Pineal Pakarae said the incident was unfortunate, and this is the 14th fire incident reported to his office since he took over in 2021.
“At least no life was lost, and my team went there at Otjombundiro village to meet the affected mother. They took along food parcels that will temporarily help her while further arrangements will be made to assist her,” he said.
He added that the regional disaster management committee criteria to assist the affected communities need to be revisited.
“It is high time we look into these policies, as they are not for affected individuals, but meant or set to cater, for instance, to the entire village when affected by disasters. I can give you an example of the Kahuure family in Ovinjuru village, who are yet to be assisted for the incident that happened two years ago,” he said.