Lightning tragedy: Kavango East governor pledges full govt support

In the wake of a devastating lightning strike that claimed the lives of three young boys in Katenture village, Kavango East governor Hamunyera Hambyuka has pledged government&#039;s full support to the grieving family, describing the tragedy as a disaster.Hambyuka visited the bereaved family yesterday, a week after the incident occurred, noting that the offices of the president and prime minister had instructed the region’s leadership to provide feedback on the situation. “We are here to mourn with the family, but also to see how the government can assist,” he said.He vowed that the state would not let the family shoulder the burden alone. “We agreed that this is a disaster. To leave it to the family alone, they will not cope with the situation."“The government has to assist in the burial preparations and provide essential support," he added. According to Hambyuka, the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) has been briefed, and assistance is expected to be available soonest. “Even as early as tomorrow, assistance should be on the ground. We are recommending support in the form of coffins, food, transport and reconstruction of the room that was destroyed by lightning,” he noted.In a sombre tone, he described the situation as “very, very bad."Three young lives lost in one house – it’s not easy. The Namibian people are mourning. We must come in as a government. We cannot leave this situation to continue as it is now,” he said.Knock for helpHe confirmed that transport arrangements would be made for the family, given the difficulty they face in accessing help due to logistical constraints.Furthermore, Hambyuka urged the need for a thorough assessment in similar future cases to determine whether they meet the threshold for disaster intervention.“Even if it happened at night or elsewhere, when it is observed that a family cannot cope, we have to recommend support to the Office of the Prime Minister,” he said.“There is a disaster management budget. If a situation is declared a disaster, we can knock on the Prime Minister’s door and ask for help.”The governor&#039;s visit follows a police report from the Mukwe Police Station, confirming that three young boys died after being struck by lightning on Wednesday, 2 April, at around 17:00.The children were inside a thatched house during a rainstorm when lightning struck. A fourth child, 10-year-old Victoria Thinyemba, survived the incident and is recovering at Andara Hospital.

Lightning tragedy: Kavango East governor pledges full govt support

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Namibian Sun 2025-05-01

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Lightning tragedy: Kavango East governor pledges full govt support

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Namibian Sun 2025-05-01

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