Lissony Njembo
Twenty-five years ago, Mbakondja Upora was disconnected from her biological family, where she was subjected to wanton abuse and neglect.
She was between two and three years old when she was unchained from the dreadful arms of her late aunt.
She would go on to spend the next quarter of a century in foster homes.
She has lived in several foster homes in Grootfontein, Tsumeb and Swakopmund.
While many toddlers grow up loved and protected, Upora’s early years were a nightmare, filled with pain and agony.
It all started when Upora and her younger sister were taken in by their aunt, as their mother’s economic situation did not allow her to care for her three children.
However, instead of finding safety, the children were subjected to abuse, this publication understands.
Going down her painful past, Upora said her aunt severely assaulted them during their childhood. As a baby, she was burnt with hot water and thrown onto a burning fire, leaving her with third-degree burns.
The injuries caused permanent damage to her feet. She lost most of the toes on one foot, while the other foot has no toes at all.
She also recalled a traumatic incident in which her aunt drilled a nail into her head, leaving a visible scar. “The person who was supposed to help me became my worst nightmare,” she said.
Her life changed when she was taken to Grootfontein Hospital, where medical staff reported the case as child abuse. Authorities prevented her from returning to her aunt and instead placed her in the care of SOS Children’s Village in Tsumeb, where she grew up and attended school until Grade 6.
She later moved to Swakopmund, where she completed Grade 10, but is currently unemployed.
Faith
Despite her difficult past, Upora says, faith has played a major role in her life. She describes herself as a born-again Christian and discovered her passion for singing while living with her last foster family.
“I used to sing with my foster sisters, and that is when I discovered my love for music,” she said. In 2025, while attending a church service, her pastor asked her what she wanted God to do for her.
“At first, I did not know what to say, so I told the pastor I would think about it. Later that day, I realised that what I truly wanted was to be reunited with my family,” she said.
At the time, Upora did not know her father, although she had some knowledge of her maternal relatives.
Her aunt, Adolfine Hitikua, eventually located her in Swakopmund, where Upora was living in a rented shack that had been paid for by her foster mother.
When Hitikua heard about her whereabouts, she contacted Upora’s uncle, her father’s brother who lives in Swakopmund, and asked him to find her. In June 2025, the uncle took Upora to Okamatapati to meet her biological father. Eventually, in August that year, she moved to Coblenz, where she now lives with Hitikua, her mother’s sister.
Hitikua said the family never stopped searching for Upora. “I am very happy that she came back alive,” Hitikua said.
“We looked for her for many years but could not find her. Last year, I prayed for her return, and my prayers were answered,” she said.
Upora believes that the hardships she endured helped shape the person she is today.
“I believe everything happened for a reason. Through it all, I came to know the love of God. The experience made me a strong woman,” she said.
The journey
Growing up was not easy. She said other children often mocked her because of the scars on her face and her disfigured feet.
“They used to call me names, and it hurt me deeply,” she said.
“I am grateful that I found my family after 25 years of living in foster homes,” she said.
The return
Upon her return, she learned about the passing of her biological mother and the aunt who abused her.
However, Upora still faces health challenges. She has a wound on her left foot that causes pain in her ankle and knee. She has already undergone more than three operations, but the condition has not improved.
Hitikua, a pensioner, hopes to raise funds to take her to Windhoek for further medical treatment.
“I hope we can get help so that she can receive the necessary operation and finally get relief,” she said.
Upora gets inspiration from motivational figures such as Bethany Hamilton and Nick Vujicic, whose stories encourage her not to let her past define her.
Upora now dreams of becoming a singer and songwriter. She also hopes to work as a massage therapist one day and says she has a passion for baking. Upora believes her story carries a message for others.
“Through God, everything is possible,” she said. “I was mocked, insulted and abused
by the person who was supposed to care for me. But I am grateful that I am alive and able to tell my story.”
She hopes that sharing her experience will inspire young people never to give up, no matter the challenges they face.