Family left homeless after homestead burns
A family of 20 - three pensioners, six adults and 11 children - was left homeless after 14 huts at their traditional homestead went up in flames along with all their belongings, food and national documents.
Luckily no one was injured.
According to the family from Onangama village in the Ongenga Constituency of the Ohangwena Region the incident happened last week Thursday around 16:00 when a 15-year-old boy from the house was burning rubbish less than a metre from the homestead’s fence.
A strong wind blew sparks from the fire to one of the huts, which caught fire.
The wind fanned the flames from one hut to the other.
The family lost their food stores and all their clothes and shoes.
They managed to save some partly burned blankets and their just-harvested mahangu, which was kept under wet sand.
The family has been living at the homestead for more than 40 years
They are now sleeping in some of the huts which were not totally destroyed.
“There was nothing we could do. It happened so fast and because I cannot walk without my crutches one of my grandchildren assisted me to go in the mahangu field and I stood there hopeless observing how my family’s belongings were going up in flames,” 79-year-old Jolonimo Ngholoimune said.
Ngholoimune said the neighbours rushed to help them but there was nothing they could do.
“The fire destroyed a lot and there were items I had for years and I will not get them back,” Ngholoimune said.
Call for assistance
The family say they would appreciate any assistance.
“We will accept anything people will offer. As you can see the clothes I have on I was given by a neighbour. I lost everything in the fire,” 75-year-old Elizabeth Vatilifa said.
Village headman Cleophas Daniel said the constituency councillor’s office has donated three bags of maize meal.
“I also spread the word in the community for the family to be assisted by fellow community members,” Daniel said.
KENYA KAMBOWE
Luckily no one was injured.
According to the family from Onangama village in the Ongenga Constituency of the Ohangwena Region the incident happened last week Thursday around 16:00 when a 15-year-old boy from the house was burning rubbish less than a metre from the homestead’s fence.
A strong wind blew sparks from the fire to one of the huts, which caught fire.
The wind fanned the flames from one hut to the other.
The family lost their food stores and all their clothes and shoes.
They managed to save some partly burned blankets and their just-harvested mahangu, which was kept under wet sand.
The family has been living at the homestead for more than 40 years
They are now sleeping in some of the huts which were not totally destroyed.
“There was nothing we could do. It happened so fast and because I cannot walk without my crutches one of my grandchildren assisted me to go in the mahangu field and I stood there hopeless observing how my family’s belongings were going up in flames,” 79-year-old Jolonimo Ngholoimune said.
Ngholoimune said the neighbours rushed to help them but there was nothing they could do.
“The fire destroyed a lot and there were items I had for years and I will not get them back,” Ngholoimune said.
Call for assistance
The family say they would appreciate any assistance.
“We will accept anything people will offer. As you can see the clothes I have on I was given by a neighbour. I lost everything in the fire,” 75-year-old Elizabeth Vatilifa said.
Village headman Cleophas Daniel said the constituency councillor’s office has donated three bags of maize meal.
“I also spread the word in the community for the family to be assisted by fellow community members,” Daniel said.
KENYA KAMBOWE
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