Lightning exacts heavy toll in North

LIGHTNING has claimed the lives of five people in the North so far this month.

According to Police reports, Hamukoto Eliaser (25) from Oshifitu near Okongo in the Ohangwena Region died after he was struck by a bolt of lightning on October 10 while looking after cattle; Josef Haimbodi (36) from Ondobe village in Ohangwena and Kandalindishiwo Shapumba (14) from Oshihau village in the Omusati Region were struck by lightning on October 17; and, Marianne Nawanga (48) from Onampadhi village in the Oshana Region and Erasmus Kalomutumba Haihambo (37) from Onanghulo village in Ohangwena were struck down by lightning on October 18. While the good rains in the North have brought relief to some farmers and villagers, tears of sadness have fallen among family members of the deceased in the Omusati, Oshana and Ohangwena regions.”It seems that the rain of this year has started very early and is very angry …I think it will kill many people this year,” an elderly man from Oshakati said.He explained to The Namibian that in Oshi-wambo they had a saying that when rain was accompanied by thunderstorms and lightning that struck and killed people, that rain was ‘female’ and posed a danger to people, animals and trees.While the good rains in the North have brought relief to some farmers and villagers, tears of sadness have fallen among family members of the deceased in the Omusati, Oshana and Ohangwena regions.”It seems that the rain of this year has started very early and is very angry …I think it will kill many people this year,” an elderly man from Oshakati said.He explained to The Namibian that in Oshi-wambo they had a saying that when rain was accompanied by thunderstorms and lightning that struck and killed people, that rain was ‘female’ and posed a danger to people, animals and trees.