NKURENKURU – Ten victims who perished in a horrific car accident outside Nkurenkuru in the Kavango West region in April have been laid to rest. 

The mass burial of the 10 victims was held at Siyena village outside Nkurenkuru on Saturday. 

Their burial was delayed due to the lengthy identification process through DNA, which was only completed last week. 

The victims were burned beyond recognition after the cars they were travelling in, being a seven-seater and a Nissan Tiida sedan, collided head-on and caught fire on 23 April. 

The accident happened on the Nkurenkuru-Mpungu road, some 18 km west of Nkurenkuru. 

The victims were identified as Emilia Hutjika Hawanga, Tenga Kanghumbi, Abraham Kangumbe Sivamba, Mutanuka Immanuel Sikarepo, Francisco Manengu, Silyata Moses Shapi, Paulus Sigwali, Josophine Nehova Markus, Ihemba Wilbard and Veronika Nyama Nguuru. 

“This tragedy has devastated us all indeed. On my behalf and on behalf of the Ministry of Works and Transport and the Government of the Republic of Namibia, I sincerely offer heartfelt condolences to the respective bereaved families, comrades, friends and acquaintances on this tragic and highly regrettable and saddening loss of many lives,” Kavango West governor Sirkka Ausiku said in a speech on behalf of minister of transport John Mutorwa.  

“Dear bereaved families, let the respective loving memories of your loving family members give you peace, and comfort you all. Your family members have found eternal peace and freedom in God. 

Losing someone you love is never easy, and goodbyes such as for the passing away of a loved one, especially when we think that the storylife was not finished, hurts the most.”

- jmuyamba@nepc.com.na