Lissony Njembo 

The Mukaa OtjaHosea Women National group from Okotjitituo, last week donated a well-constructed corrugated iron house to a destitute pensioner, Kamii Mbirijona in Coblenz village in the Okakarara constituency of Otjozundjupa region. 

Mukaa Hosea is a group of women married to men of the OtjaHosea Traditional Peer Group. The group, as per Ovaherero culture constitute peers circumcised in the years 1968 to 1970. As per traditional customs, men who share a ‘peer group’ are regarded as ‘brothers’. Although not a traditional requirement, the women married to men of certain peer groups also regard themselves as ‘sisters’ and do work of charity within the communities they live. 

Babylow Hitjivirue Kazohua the chairperson of Mukaa Hosea Women National group said that the group come up with various initiatives that assist communities annually. “Our group has an outreach programme as part of our motto, which is to make a difference in other people’s lives,” she said. 

Mbirijona, a 73-year-old mother of six children, has been living in a tiny house constructed with corrugated iron for most of her life. She has never worked and thus not able to take care of herself financially at most times. 

“For us not to be biased, we requested the services of Rapupara Tjipura a profound Coblenz community member to assist us locate someone in the area who is in dire need of our services. Tjipura found a pensioner in Coblenz who lived alone in a shack that was poorly constructed,” she said. 

Kazohua said that the project on Mbirijona’s house construction started in September this year. The handover was on the 10 December on Human Rights Day; a day that has a lot of significance according to Kazohua. Along with the house, the group showered Mbirijona with gifts ranging from food items to beddings. An overwhelmed Mbirijona welcomed the gesture and said she was grateful to be selected as a beneficiary. “I am so thrilled because I was the one chosen,” said the pensioner. Gerson Kapinge Tjirimuje, a peer of the OtjaHosea, said he is pleased with what the wives of OtjaHosea are doing. 

“I am happy that they are digging deep into their pockets, and answering the cries of the destitute,” he said. 

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