Zebaldt Ngaruka
A San family of four was left homeless when their shack caught fire at Maranata Plot in Omaheke’s Epukiro constituency earlier this week.
The owner of the shack, Martha Chapman, and her family were not around when the fire engulfed their home. Frans Chapman, a brother of the victim and neighbour, said they tried everything to stop the fire, but without any success.
“It happened so fast, and it was difficult as the wind was blowing,” he added.
Martha lives with her husband and two sons.
Contacted by New Era, Martha was gripped by a huge sense of despair.
“I lost everything, including national documents, and I do not know where to start,” she lamented.
She continued that even the little food they had was reduced to ashes.
“It is so painful, and we don’t know if we will survive. My child’s clothes are all burned; he is only left with a school uniform,” she added.
The family is currently sleeping in a small tent in front of their burned structure.
Contacted about the situation, Epukiro constituency councillor Pineal ‘Packey’ Pakarae said it is bad, and his office will work closely with the family to find amicable solutions.
“I was at the scene, and I witnessed it myself that there is nothing left. My team is busy assisting the victims with humanitarian services and documents needed at the marginalised communities’ offices in Gobabis,” he added.
On her part, Desiree Masheshe, who is the regional development planner in the Ministry of Gender Equality, Poverty Eradication and Social Welfare in the division of marginalised communities, told this publication that her office is assisting the victims with food.
“We received the news, and we, in consultation with the Epukiro councillor, will provide transport to the victims to travel to Gobabis,” she said.
Furthermore, her division will assist them in acquiring building materials from other stakeholders in government, as well as with the renewal of their national documents from the ministry of home affairs.
It is suspected that an electrical failure of the family’s solar panel sheet caused the fire.
- zngaruka@yahoo.com