Africa-Press – Namibia. FOR many, the new year brought joy and excitement. However, 1 January, a day often filled with exquisite delicacies and fireworks, was not the same for Uzebia Haikongo, who began the new year in despair.
“In the middle of a widely celebrated day, we were rolling on the ground crying while watching our shack on fire. We lost everything,” an emotional Haikongo told The Namibian yesterday.
Haikongo (55), who resides in Windhoek’s informal settlement of Okahandja Park, said she was at a shopping centre in Okuryangava when she was informed that her house was on fire.
“I remember dropping everything in so much confusion and running home. I found my place surrounded by so many people and firefighters trying to put out the fire,” Haikongo said.
Even though the fire was blazing everywhere, Haikongo said she still wanted to rush in and retrieve the children’s clothing.
She added that her house was occupied by eight people, including her four grandchildren who go to school.
“As days are getting closer to schools opening, I get anxious and my heart really hurts because my grandchildren will return to school without any uniforms or stationery.
“The only clothes we are left with are the ones we are wearing. How will these children go to school in torn clothes,” she said.
According to Haikongo, the fire started in their neighbour’s shack, who allegedly left a gas stove on when she left her house. The fire spread to three other shacks in the surrounding area.
The Namibian tried to reach the other affected families but to no avail.
Haikongo’s daughter, Otille Ndaudako (38), who is the breadwinner of the family, says she puts bread on the table by selling a traditional drink (epwaka) and traditional attire.
Yesterday Ndaudako told The Namibian that at the time of the horrific incident, she was in Onaitembu village in Omusati region.
“I came to Windhoek the following day and I found everything gone. The only thing I found was nothing but ashes,” she said.
The family, therefore, is appealing to Good Samaritans to donate corrugated iron sheets to rebuild their home as well as school uniforms.
“We have an 18-year-old girl at Mountain View High School, a 13-year-old boy at Tobias Hainyeko Primary School, eight-year-old girl in Grade 2 at Green Leaves Primary School, and a seven-year-old girl at a preschool that requires school uniform,” Ndaudako said.
She added that all the identification cards and national documents were lost in the fire and they have been sleeping in the open on empty stomachs.
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