The mass funeral and final send-off of the 16 family members who died of what is suspected to have been poisonous porridge, took place at Kayova Cemetery in the Kavango East Region on Saturday.
The final journey of the deceased whose incident sent shockwaves throughout the entire country, particularly the two Kavango regions, started with a church service at 08h00 at the Shishungho family residence where several tents were erected.
Namibians from all walks of life came out in numbers to attend one of the biggest and symbolic mass funerals the region has ever seen.
It was indeed a sombre moment for the community of Kayova, Ndiyona Constituency, the regions and the entire country.
Officials who could be seen in attendance draped in black attire were, Defence Minister Frans Kapofi, the Minister of Works and Transport John Mutorwa, President of the Popular Democratic Movement McHenry Venaani, and the Deputy Minister of Education, Arts and Culture Faustina Caley.
Other officials in attendance were Deputy Minister of Industrialisation and Trade Verna Sinimbo, Governors of the two Kavango regions Bonifatius Wakudumo and Sirkka Ausiku as well as regional councillors.
After the church service at the Shishungho family residence, mourners departed in a procession to the Kayova Cemetery where the official programme of the burial got underway.
At the mass grave site, the caskets of the bodies were lined up with their names placed on black plaques in front of each casket to differentiate them.
As the caskets were being lowered into the conjoined grave, families of the deceased sobbed uncontrollably.
Delivering the speech on behalf of Government, Kapofi said he was assigned by Cabinet to represent Government in the process of bereavement.
He said Government received the news of 16 people suspected of dying from food poisoning with a heavy heart, adding that the tragic incident could have been from a lack of food.
“As leaders we should learn from this tragic event. We should be on the ground so that when something similar happens, we notify the nearest Government institutions. Government will not hesitate to render assistance in a situation that is dire,” Kapofi said.
Source: The Namibian Press Agency