AFTER living in deplorable conditions without family support for close to three decades, Immanuel ‘Manuel’ Nguveya says if an opportunity to return home arises, he will grab it with both hands.
Nguveya (76) is an Angolan national living in the Oshikuku town of the Omusati region. The Namibian caught up with him at his backyard room on Saturday.
Clad in a blue overall jacket, black pants and a cap, the blind man walks with the support of his stick. He has just stood up from underneath a bush at the right corner of his room, where he spends his days in silence, totally oblivious to happenings of the world and in the absence of any form of civilisation. He has no Namibian national documents, therefore cannot even access the government old-age pension benefits. Nguveya says his Angolan documents are lost.
His room is an eyesore, with items scattered all over the floor. A strong stench of urine welcomes you as soon as you enter.
The conditions in which he lives are testimony to what life can be when family ties become loose. He stays at a place which once belonged to an old and now deceased friend of his, who decided to shelter him after crossing paths at the coast many years ago. His friend was Erastus Haidula, a native of Oshikuku. From Walvis Bay, where Nguveya and Haidula worked and met, they both came to the North, and Haidula decided to shelter his Angolan friend.
Nguveya narrated that he was born in the Huambo province of Angola, and travelled alone to Namibia in 1970. After staying in the North, he went to Walvis Bay, where he worked for a couple of years. After some turbulent life experiences, he moved back to the North, and settled for a few years in the Ondonga tribal area of the former Owamboland. From there, around the 1980’s, he settled at Oshikuku.
“I have been here for a very long time. I have no family, whatsoever. I have just been staying with my people (late Haidula and family),” Nguveya told The Namibian.
He now lives from the mercy and assistance of two women who conduct business at the premises of his former friend. “We found him here when we started [business] many years ago. We give him food, and buy him tobacco and matches,”said hairdresser Anna Tshimwandi, adding that Nguveya is totally dependent on her and co-worker Alina Tshivolo for everything.
“We also take him to hospital when he is not feeling well,” she noted, adding that because of Nguveya’s tobacco addiction, he often refuses to be admitted into hospital when he has a serious sickness. “He does not like it in there because people are not allowed to smoke; that is why he always wants to come back home with us.”
Tshimwandi informed The Namibian that if they do not give Nguveya food, he would go hungry for the whole day. “People from Haidula’s house sometimes bring him food, but not every day. That is why we just have to help where we can,” she explained.
Although old and deprived of proper nourishment, Nguveya’s mental state appears to be at its best, though. He was able to answer all questions well, and also showed super concentration. “Yes, I want to go back if somebody can take me back home. I am tired of being here and staying like this,” he said, while lighting his cigarette. He nonetheless said he had doubts if he would find his family after such a lengthy absence. “ Maybe there are those who will still remember me,” he noted. Asked if there is any government or traditional authority official who have extended some help to Nguveya, Tshimwandi answered: “There is no one who does not know about him here. This man has been around for a long time. All in and around Oshikuku know him,” she said.
