Remembering the First National Bank Bomb

TODAY marks 33 years after the bombing of the then Oshakati Barclays Bank branch (now First National Bank) on 19 February 1988.

One survivor, Kamati Haihambo, said he still remembers the bomb that killed 27 people and left 70 others injured, as if it happened yesterday.

“I woke up early today, as I remember the sad day. I was working for the bank as a teller when the bomb went off. I remember very well that I just found myself on the floor. I can’t remember what exactly happened. I only realised that we were in a bombing incident when I sensed that the building was on fire,” he said.

Kamati suffered burns on his face and could not see. He had to depend on the voices of his colleagues who could see to get to a safe place.

“When we got outside, community members rushed to help us. We were transported to the Oshakati State Hospital and later to the Windhoek Central Hospital where specialists treated my eyes. I remain grateful to the community members and doctors who helped us,” he said.

The 63-year-old survivor, who lives in northern Namibia, still has the shirt that he was wearing on that sad day to remind him how blessed he is to have survived, and also to remember the ones that died.

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