OTJIMBINGWE – For years, the community of Otjimbingwe, situated about 60 kilometres from Karibib, struggled without a mortuary.
While a mortuary may not seem like a priority to many, for this community, it has been a constant challenge to give their loved ones a dignified burial.
Home to approximately 4 000 residents, Otjimbingwe has a small health facility with three registered nurses, two enrolled nurses and one administrative officer.
However, the absence of a mortuary meant that families had to find transport to take their deceased relatives to Karibib, Swakopmund, Omaruru or as far as Okahandja when the other facilities were full.
Maria Goagus, a retired teacher and church elder, narrated the difficulties they faced.
“When someone died, I had the difficult task of ensuring they were declared dead. Some families did not have the means to transport their loved ones. Those who did had to pay N$500 just to get them to another town. It was heartbreaking,” she said.
Anastacia Tjitavia, another resident, said “We struggled a lot. Some people simply could not afford transport, which made a painful situation even worse. We are very happy that our needs have finally been met. I hope we keep the mortuary clean and well-maintained”.
Tsoaxu Daman chief Joshua Seibebm, who leads the community of Otjimbingwe, expressed gratitude for the new facility.
“Our community can attest to how much we struggled without a mortuary. We must hold hands to ensure our wishes are fulfilled. We recently received a maternity ward. Now, we have this mortuary. Our people have also benefitted from funding through the Golden Egg project and the Karakul project.
“We acknowledge the investments and support Otjimbingwe has received from QKR Namibia Navachab Gold Mine and other stakeholders. This mortuary may seem insignificant to some – but for us, it brings much-needed relief. Without transport, burials became a nightmare. We are thankful that Navachab heard our pleas,” he said.
Navachab, through its corporate social responsibility programme, funded the construction of the mortuary at a cost of N$4.5 million. The facility includes three storage cabinets with space for expansion to six, an office, a storeroom and an incinerator for medical waste disposal. It also has a generator to ensure uninterrupted power supply during outages.
Managing director of the mine George Botshiwe stressed the importance of community-driven initiatives.
He said they believe that communities around Navachab should benefit from their presence.
Their philosophy is centred on a consultative and collaborative approach, which is why they engage with local communities to understand their critical needs.
“What we see today is the result of these engagements, which started in 2022. The community of Otjimbingwe identified the mortuary as a priority. We understood the importance of dignified burials.
“Our community projects include investments in education, health, electricity infrastructure and social upliftment. We want to leave a lasting impact and ensure that our initiatives align with the needs of the people,” Botshiwe stated.
Health minister Dr Kalumbi Shangula commended Navachab for its contribution.
He said the mortuary is a testament to the power of public-private partnerships in addressing critical needs.
“The public health system must provide a full continuum of services – from birth to the last breath. This includes mortuary services, which have been a challenge for this community. With the inauguration of this mortuary, we ease these burdens by ensuring immediate access to dignified care for the deceased,” Shangula said.