Kavango East governor visits family who lost children to lightning

Governor of the Kavango East region Julius Hambyuka has described the death of three children at Katenture village after they were struck by lightning as a matter requiring government assistance.

Hambyuka, accompanied by Mukwe constituency councillor Damian Maghambayi and staff members from his office, visited the bereaved family on Tuesday.

The three children aged four, five and 13, died on 2 April after they were struck by lightning while in their grandmother’s room.

Another child (10) survived the incident and is receiving medical attention at the Andara District Hospital.

Hambyuka consoled the family, saying his office reported it to the Office of the President and Office of the Prime Minister, which tasked him to assess the situation to see how the government could assist.

“Losing three children from one family is not easy. We cannot leave the family alone to cope with this situation,” Hambyuka said.

After assessing the situation on the ground, Hambyuka observed that the family needed to be assisted with coffins, as well as food and water.

The room which was destroyed by the lightning strike is also in need of repairs.

Hambyuka said these recommendations will be communicated to the Office of the Prime Minister through the disaster risk management committee.

Maghambayi, who doubles as chairperson of the regional disaster risk management committee, said the assessment revealed the family was destitute.

“We provided a small tent and a consignment of food consisting of 10 bags of maize meal. The family has no means of survival. They are subsistence farmers who live on what they produce from their mahangu field,” Maghambayi said.

The councillor called on Namibians to assist the family, explaining that the bereaved grandmother also lost all her belongings such as blankets and mattresses during the incident.

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