Customize Consent Preferences

We use cookies to help you navigate efficiently and perform certain functions. You will find detailed information about all cookies under each consent category below.

The cookies that are categorized as "Necessary" are stored on your browser as they are essential for enabling the basic functionalities of the site. ... 

Always Active

Necessary cookies are required to enable the basic features of this site, such as providing secure log-in or adjusting your consent preferences. These cookies do not store any personally identifiable data.

No cookies to display.

Functional cookies help perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collecting feedback, and other third-party features.

No cookies to display.

Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics such as the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.

No cookies to display.

Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.

No cookies to display.

Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with customized advertisements based on the pages you visited previously and to analyze the effectiveness of the ad campaigns.

No cookies to display.

Triplets’ Himba Mother Seeks Help

Home Archived Triplets’ Himba Mother Seeks Help

By Michael Liswaniso

OPUWO

A 21-year-old school dropout, Himba mother Vetumbua Zatjinda, finds herself in a tricky financial position. She is struggling to make ends meet after she gave birth to triplets last month amid a backdrop of rising food prices.

Zatjinda whose first name could roughly be translated to mean, “people can be helped” is appealing for assistance to feed her babies.

The woman, believed to be the first from this community to have triplets, managed to only make it to Grade 9 and finds life difficult despite receiving infant-feeding formula from the State hospital.

“I need help and even a small job to help my kids. The daily needs of my children need daily resources,” she told New Era two days ago.

Zatjinda narrated that when she fell pregnant, she never expected to give birth to triplets.

She said it was a big surprise for her and her boyfriend, Black Siyemo, who is employed as a police officer in Okangwati, some 120 kilometres north of Opuwo where they reside. The lovebirds have another two-year-old daughter.

“I never expected that my daughter would give birth to triplets. At first I was surprised but I started to pray to God because this is a wonder and a wonder is wonderful,” said Zatjinda’s mother, Aluvira Ngarijanu, who is employed as a hostel matron at Okangwati.

According to Zatjinda’s mother, it has been a month now trying to make ends meet but to no good. She added that their family is big, with most of its members unemployed.

Narrating the situation, the mother said she has approached the Kunene Regional Council to seek help. Kunene Regional Council promised to help with some daily needs for her children whose needs are many, she said.

She said the regional council awaits a letter from Epupa Constituency office based in Okangwati before it can deliver on its promise.

Ngarijanu noted that the letter outlines the difficult situation the family finds itself in as well as its day-to-day living standard.

Jeremiah Kava, the Deputy Director of Rural Water Services, who also doubles as the Acting Chief Regional Officer for Kunene Regional Council, confirmed the regional council’s standing on the matter. He said the regional council is fully aware of the matter and is planning to take it up with the Ministry of Gender Equality, Prime Minister’s Office and the Office of the First Lady and other stakeholders.

Meanwhile, the family is not new to twins but triplets were a great “wonder” according to Ngarijanu. In August last year, Ngarijanu’s brother was blessed with twins.