Africa-Press – Namibia. DURING the funeral of 16 family members who tragically lost their lives due to food poisoning in the Kavango East region, Frans Kapofi, the Minister of Defence and Veteran Affairs, highlighted the issue of statelessness among many Namibians within the country. He emphasized that this problem has not been fully addressed and that the government is actively working to resolve it.
The objective is to ensure that vulnerable members of society obtain national documents, which are necessary to receive social support from the government. Minister Kapofi attended the funeral of the 16 individuals who passed away in May as a result of food poisoning in Kayova village.
Below reads the minister’s full statement:
It is with immense grief that I joined this ceremony this morning to lay to rest these 16 members of the Shishugho family whose lives ended tragically due to suspected food poisoning in this village of Kayova. The message of their demise was received by the central government on the 27th of May 2023. After considering the circumstances surrounding the matter and the magnitude of this loss to one family, the government decided to assist the family with the burial. I am therefore here as assigned by Cabinet, to represent the Government in this process of bereavement. Cabinet and indeed the entire Government expresses sorrow and extends its condolences.
The Government received the message about this mass demise of our fellow citizens with a very heavy heart. From the side of the government, “One life lost is one too many”. We regret that things happened this way perhaps because causes of this tragic incident could be as a result of lack of food.
As leaders, we should learn from this and other similar tragic events and be on the ground so that when you come across cases where people are hard pressed, you notify the Government institution nearest to you. The Government will not hesitate to provide assistance when there are people reported to be in a dire situation of whatever kind.
Dear Family members, Dear mourners, Ladies and gentlemen
The Government has a programme designed specifically to assist the needy. It is a programme meant for problems such as the one that has led to us gathering under such unfortunate circumstances. Unfortunately, the central Government cannot be everywhere and would not know what is happening to its citizens all around the country. But since it has representatives at local level, they are expected to be bringing matters of the people to its attention speedily.
The government has always supported the affected communities with relief aid during disasters such as drought and floods. It pains me to admit that we have not as Government, been able to address the issue of statelessness of many of the people in its entirety. However, Government is hard at work to resolve this problem which is a requirement of the United Nations that, statelessness should not be allowed.
National documents will enable people to access social and other grants which to a large extent help in addressing abject poverty in our society. As Government works towards resolving some of these issues, we would like to urge you to support each other as communities in times of need. Let’s share the little we have when we realise our neighbours or fellow community members are in need.
Dear family members, dear mourners,
The loss of your family members is also a great loss to our country. We are grateful the lives of some were spared. It is our hope that the resources that the government mobilized to assist the bereaved family including the deployment of a team of social workers to provide psychosocial support and counselling came in handy to help you cope with the bereavement. It is the government’s hope that even though it is not easy to lose a family member, let alone young ones who were expected to have a successful future, you will find peace with time.
In conclusion, I would like thank Government officials, especially health care workers, individuals, organisations and all those who have assisted the family from the time those who departed were in hospital to this day of their burial. We are informed there are other members of the family who are still in hospital, we would like to wish them a quick and complete recovery.
And, once again, I would like to extend, on behalf of Government, our heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family. Government will stay the course in support of the family. May the Souls of the Departed Rest in Eternal Peace.
I thank you!
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