OTJOMUISE FLOOD VICTIMS SHARE HARROWING EXPERIENCES

By Eba Kandovazu
(NAMPA FEATURES SERVICE)

WINDHOEK, 12 JAN (NAMPA) - While sleeping on a recent Saturday afternoon, 12-year-old Jonatha Eiseb woke up to waist-deep water in his mother’s single room shack, in what he describes as a terrifying experience.
Eiseb, one of the 1189 survivors of a flash flood in Otjomuise’s Agtste Laan informal settlement last Saturday, narrated the events preceding the washing away of his mother’s shack following severe rainfall.
He was home alone when it started raining. Trapped in the wreckage, Eiseb explained how hopeless he felt, before tearing up and screaming for help.
“It was so bad, I started screaming. The water was so strong I had even forgotten where the house keys were. Luckily, our neighbour heard my cries and he came to my rescue. I was trapped inside and the walls started falling down. It was a very traumatising experience,” Eiseb recalled.
His mother, 46-year-old Katrina Eises who was at work during the tragedy, said she has since lost her job.
The mother of three was employed as a domestic worker for four years and moved to Agtste Laan in 2020.
“How can she (employer) expect me to go to work when I am dealing with such a matter? My house is wrecked, my pots, dishes, beds and furniture are gone, and I now have to worry about my children’s uniforms and renewing their national documents. I have asked my boss to come over and observe the situation, but she refuses,” Eises said.
Another flood victim, 32-year-old Joshua Nakalemo who owned a tuck shop in the affected area, said he lost N.dollars 14 000 when his small business was washed away.
“It was a normal Saturday for us. I was sitting outside with my customers while it rained. We observed the rainwater in the riverbed but we didn’t think much of it. We underestimated the rain, but water slowly started moving towards us and before I knew it, I was knee-deep. The water levels started rising and the waves became stronger. I immediately picked up my one-year-old baby and rushed to our bedroom. Soon after, everyone followed us and we held onto the rails. It was a harrowing experience,” he said.
Nakalemo says he lost all his stock and his refrigerator and television are damaged. He has been left with only the clothes he wore on that Saturday and also lost his national documents.
“With the government’s planned relocation for us, recovering will be difficult because all my friends and customers are in Otjomuise. I do not know anyone Goreangab where they plan to relocate us to, so business might be slow that side,” he told Nampa.
Another victim, Sackie Nambuli aged 32, said he was forced to pay mechanics to fix his BMW which was submerged. Nambuli explained that he was at home with other family members when it started raining.
“My car is severely damaged. The exhaust was full of water, I watched hopelessly as it filled up with water. Yesterday I managed to get it fixed because I’m starting work on Monday. My seats are still wet though. We however lost everything. Our things were washed away, our electronics are broken,” he stressed.
City of Windhoek spokesperson, Lydia Amutenya, said although several houses were flooded, no fatalities or injuries have been reported.
“The natural water flow in Otjomuise was obstructed by discarded tyres, causing water to stagnate and flood the area. Additionally, blocked culverts along Eneas Peter Nanyemba Street in road construction zones led to flooding in nearby houses,” Amutenya said.
Some of the flood victims have been relocated to Goreangab, where they are living in temporary shelters.
(NAMPA)
EB/AS