OMUTSEGWONIME – A 41-year-old sightless man, who lives with his two minor boys in a small, dilapidated house at Omutsegwonime, located 20km north of Omuthiya, tells his tale of daily hardship.
The village structure that Shikudule Jekonia and his family call home is in a deplorable state, surrounded by grass and one can see their few belongings from outside.
Jekonia and his two sons sleep in a makeshift bedroom, which is surrounded by bushes. There is no mattress, and their beddings are soaked as there is nothing to stop the rainwater from flowing into their bedroom.
Despite these conditions, it is the only place they call home.
He explained that when they get their hands on food, they cook outside in the open. However, at times they are unable to due to the recent torrential rain.
Jekonia said when he is not feeling well, they are forced to go to bed on an empty stomach as his children Simon (5) and Petrus (5) are still too young and do not know how to cook.
According to Jekonia, he lost his sight years back, when one of his relatives threw a stick and hit one of his eyes. Unfortunately, the second eye was also affected by the accident.
“Although I get a disability grant, which is N$1 400, is not enough to employ a helper. I do everything on my own. This condition brought me so much pain of rejection,” stressed Jekonia.
He said because of his state, he has on several occasions attempted to take his life, but God and his minor children have been a source of his strength to soldier on.
Jekonia does most of the house chores, such as cooking, laundry, tidying up their room and even fetching water, all by himself or with minimal help from his sons.
“Walking 2km with a 25 litre container on my shoulder is not easy, but what can I do?, if there is no one to help, I just have to. Things my two sons do for me are unbelievable,” he narrated.
He said he lived with women before his blindness, but they have since left him.
“I wish there could be a woman who would want to be with me to play certain roles that only women can, but women won’t stick around a blind man who also has nothing,” he lamented.
He said he wishes to go back to his parental home in Epembe, Ohangwena region.
He explained that his parents are now old, and they would not be able to take care of him and at the same time look after 18 children and grandchildren who are all financially dependent on them.
Jekonia said despite having registered for the drought relief programme, he and the children have so far not benefited from it, and neither do the children get social grants.
He called on good Samaritans to assist them with items such as corrugated iron sheets for shelter, mattresses, clothes and food.
Attempts to get a comment from the Omuthiya councillor, Samuel Shivute proved futile as his phone was not reachable.
-vkaapanda@nepc.com.na