Hompa Shiyambi visits mutete victims' family - by Petrina Mafuro
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MASHARE - The VaGciriku Tribal Chief, Hompa Kassian Shiyambi, visited the bereaved San family whose seven members died from suspected poisoning after eating a meal at a funeral in Shinunga, in the Mashare constituency recently.
His visit followed news of the death of the seven San-speaking relatives after consuming what was suspected to be poisoned mutete - a wild spinach.
Shiyambi, who went to assess the situation, said he was shocked when he heard the news. He said the incident is the first of its nature in his tribal territory and/or the region at large.
"This was a shock not to me only, but to all the VaGciriku people and the country at large. This has not happened before, as far as I know. I came to hear it all from you," he continued. "I want to know how it happened and if anyone had lent a helping hand so far," Shiyambi said.
"We have been eating our mutete since we were young and no one was reported to have died from it. Why did it have to start with you people?" he asked.
So far, the family has received some assistance from the regional council through the Mashare constituency. They said they have been given maize meal and bread.
"We have been given maize meal by the regional council via our constituency councillor. We have received 58 bags of maize meal and 30 loaves of bread," one of the family members, Josef Shiyave, told New Era.
The bereaved family had inadequate shelter for themselves and other people who came to comfort them during the past days.
"We did not have accommodation for some of our family members who had come from afar over the past days. We have to acknowledge that we have received a tent from the regional council via our constituency. We are now at least able to put up our family," Shiyave stressed.
Shiyambi was accompanied by some of his councillors as well the Chairperson of the VaGciruku Traditional Authority Community Fund, Petrus Kavhura. They donated a cow worth N$2 000 to the family.
"We have approved to bequeath a cow worth N$2 000. We think this will at least cater for the family at some point on the burial day. People will come to give their last respects, and we thought this would help," said Kavhura.
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His visit followed news of the death of the seven San-speaking relatives after consuming what was suspected to be poisoned mutete - a wild spinach.
Shiyambi, who went to assess the situation, said he was shocked when he heard the news. He said the incident is the first of its nature in his tribal territory and/or the region at large.
"This was a shock not to me only, but to all the VaGciriku people and the country at large. This has not happened before, as far as I know. I came to hear it all from you," he continued. "I want to know how it happened and if anyone had lent a helping hand so far," Shiyambi said.
"We have been eating our mutete since we were young and no one was reported to have died from it. Why did it have to start with you people?" he asked.
So far, the family has received some assistance from the regional council through the Mashare constituency. They said they have been given maize meal and bread.
"We have been given maize meal by the regional council via our constituency councillor. We have received 58 bags of maize meal and 30 loaves of bread," one of the family members, Josef Shiyave, told New Era.
The bereaved family had inadequate shelter for themselves and other people who came to comfort them during the past days.
"We did not have accommodation for some of our family members who had come from afar over the past days. We have to acknowledge that we have received a tent from the regional council via our constituency. We are now at least able to put up our family," Shiyave stressed.
Shiyambi was accompanied by some of his councillors as well the Chairperson of the VaGciruku Traditional Authority Community Fund, Petrus Kavhura. They donated a cow worth N$2 000 to the family.
"We have approved to bequeath a cow worth N$2 000. We think this will at least cater for the family at some point on the burial day. People will come to give their last respects, and we thought this would help," said Kavhura.
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