Lightning kills 11 cattle in Kavango West

A farmer at Epingiro village in the Kavango West Region's Ncamagoro Constituency suffered a loss when lightning killed 11 of his cattle on Sunday evening.

According to the farmer, Kanganga Mutundu (58), the incident happened around 18:00 when two of his sons were on their way back home herding their 35 cattle.

Epingiro village is about 70 kilometres south-west of Rundu.

Mutundu said he only learnt about the incident around 20:00 when his sons arrived home after running about seven kilometres.

“My sons, who were shocked, came to inform me what had happened and I immediately came here where the incident took place. That was around 21:00 when I arrived and it was dark.

We then decided to deal with the matter the following day,” Mutundu said.

Mutundu said his family depends on the proceeds of selling milk or cattle.

“This is a very big loss to me and my family. It took me years to have such a large number of cattle. It is so painful that after my cattle made it through the drought, I have now lost them in such a manner,” he said, adding that he was grateful his sons were unharmed.



He said there was no way he could sell the meat because the carcasses were already spoiled.



Mutundu appealed to the government and good Samaritans to assist him in any way possible.



Ncamagoro Constituency councillor Sikondo Johannes Kahonzo said he knew about the incident and encouraged benefactors to help the Mutundu family.