New mortuary brings relief, dignity to Otjimbingwe residents
• Built at a cost N$4.5 million
For the first time in its history, the settlement of Otjimbingwe, home to approximately 4 000 residents, now has a mortuary.
The long-awaited facility will ease the financial and logistical burdens that grieving families have endured for years, having previously been forced to transport their deceased loved ones over 50 kilometres to the nearest mortuary in other towns in – or out – of the region.
The mortuary, constructed at a cost of N$4.5 million, was officially inaugurated by health minister Kalumbi Shangula on Wednesday.
“Naturally, we are not inclined to build mortuaries because we do not want people to die. However, the reality of life is that life follows a one-directional trajectory. We are born, we age, and we then die. That is determined by nature,” said Shangula.
“While we strive for people to live long and healthy lives, there are limits beyond which we cannot interfere. The construction of this mortuary is, therefore, an absolutely necessary development,” he added.
The facility includes three storage cabinets with space to expand to six, an incinerator for the safe disposal of medical waste, an office, a storeroom and a generator to ensure uninterrupted power supply. The addition of the incinerator marks an important step in improving health and safety standards in the community by ensuring proper waste management.
Consultative approach
The construction of the mortuary was funded by QKR Namibia Navachab Gold Mine as part of its corporate social investment (CSI) initiatives.
“The mine believes that Namibia, and particularly the communities around us where we operate, should be better off because of our presence. We are not prescriptive in our contributions to the community; rather, our CSI philosophy is centred around a consultative approach,” managing director George Botshiwe said.
Botshiwe revealed that community engagement on developmental needs began as far back as 2022, with the establishment of a mortuary identified as a top priority.
“We understood the essence of such a facility, as it was about the dignified burial of our loved ones. The burden of transporting deceased persons over long distances placed enormous strain on families and law enforcement alike,” he said. “It was, therefore, our decision to support this project to the tune of N$4.5 million.”
Tsoaxudaman Traditional Authority Chief Joshua Seibeb expressed gratitude to the mine for its continued support of healthcare infrastructure in Otjimbingwe, including previous investments in a maternity ward and clinic.
“In the past, we had to hire a car to take the corpses of our beloved ones to towns far away. It was very difficult for those with no money and resources. The new health facilities make life much easier. Now, we can bury our loved ones with dignity,” he said.
Seibeb also encouraged local entrepreneurs to seize the opportunity to provide funeral-related services such as coffin-making and flower arrangements, further strengthening the local economy.
Dignified
Erongo governor Neville Andre also lauded the project.
“For too long, families in this village have endured the difficult task of transporting their departed loved ones to towns elsewhere, adding to their emotional and financial burdens. Today, I am proud to say that this challenge is a thing of the past. The commissioning of this mortuary means that our community members will now have access to dignified and much-needed preservation services right here at home,” he said.
The long-awaited facility will ease the financial and logistical burdens that grieving families have endured for years, having previously been forced to transport their deceased loved ones over 50 kilometres to the nearest mortuary in other towns in – or out – of the region.
The mortuary, constructed at a cost of N$4.5 million, was officially inaugurated by health minister Kalumbi Shangula on Wednesday.
“Naturally, we are not inclined to build mortuaries because we do not want people to die. However, the reality of life is that life follows a one-directional trajectory. We are born, we age, and we then die. That is determined by nature,” said Shangula.
“While we strive for people to live long and healthy lives, there are limits beyond which we cannot interfere. The construction of this mortuary is, therefore, an absolutely necessary development,” he added.
The facility includes three storage cabinets with space to expand to six, an incinerator for the safe disposal of medical waste, an office, a storeroom and a generator to ensure uninterrupted power supply. The addition of the incinerator marks an important step in improving health and safety standards in the community by ensuring proper waste management.
Consultative approach
The construction of the mortuary was funded by QKR Namibia Navachab Gold Mine as part of its corporate social investment (CSI) initiatives.
“The mine believes that Namibia, and particularly the communities around us where we operate, should be better off because of our presence. We are not prescriptive in our contributions to the community; rather, our CSI philosophy is centred around a consultative approach,” managing director George Botshiwe said.
Botshiwe revealed that community engagement on developmental needs began as far back as 2022, with the establishment of a mortuary identified as a top priority.
“We understood the essence of such a facility, as it was about the dignified burial of our loved ones. The burden of transporting deceased persons over long distances placed enormous strain on families and law enforcement alike,” he said. “It was, therefore, our decision to support this project to the tune of N$4.5 million.”
Tsoaxudaman Traditional Authority Chief Joshua Seibeb expressed gratitude to the mine for its continued support of healthcare infrastructure in Otjimbingwe, including previous investments in a maternity ward and clinic.
“In the past, we had to hire a car to take the corpses of our beloved ones to towns far away. It was very difficult for those with no money and resources. The new health facilities make life much easier. Now, we can bury our loved ones with dignity,” he said.
Seibeb also encouraged local entrepreneurs to seize the opportunity to provide funeral-related services such as coffin-making and flower arrangements, further strengthening the local economy.
Dignified
Erongo governor Neville Andre also lauded the project.
“For too long, families in this village have endured the difficult task of transporting their departed loved ones to towns elsewhere, adding to their emotional and financial burdens. Today, I am proud to say that this challenge is a thing of the past. The commissioning of this mortuary means that our community members will now have access to dignified and much-needed preservation services right here at home,” he said.
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