Mokosso family still searching
The family of an American man who went missing in the Brandberg area two weeks ago say they are not giving up the search for him, or his remains.
The official search for a United States citizen, Mark Mokosso (37), who has been missing since 15 December in the Brandberg area near Uis, has been called off but his siblings are offering a reward for any further leads that could provide answers.
“The search has stopped for Mark but the investigation remains open. If any new information is discovered then the search will continue. Mark could not have just vanished,” Roy Mokosso told Namibian Sun yesterday.
Mokosso and two other siblings only recently left Namibia to return home after spending several days alongside authorities and volunteers combing the remote and vast Brandberg area where their brother was last seen.
After the search was called off when all leads ran dry, Mokosso said the family was offering a reward of N$150 000 to anyone who helps to locate Mark Mokosso alive.
The family is also offering a reward of N$50 000 for any information that leads to the recovery of Mokosso's remains, should he not have survived the ordeal.
“We want closure and we do want to know what happened. If there is even the slightest of chances that Mark might be alive, then we will maintain hope. The reward will hopefully help uncover new information,” Roy said yesterday.
He and his siblings have not discounted the possibility that the disappearance of their brother could be related to foul play, and not an accident.
“We will be doing our part to help the police investigation. We will be contacting his bank so they can watch his accounts for activity, we will be sending the police a detailed list of any valuable items Mark might have had on him and we have offered a reward,” Roy Mokosso added.
Mark Mokosso, who arrived in Namibia early in December, vanished more than two weeks ago after he had driven to Brandberg from Swakopmund in a rented car, reportedly to hike through the area.
He was last seen after he parked his vehicle on the D2342 Xoboxobo road and left.
An intense ground and air search was launched by the Namibian authorities, joined by volunteers and family members of the missing man.
The search covered an area of around 750 square kilometres in the desolate area just south of the Brandberg Mountain.
Shortly after Christmas the official search was called off after all leads had led to a dead end.
Roy Mokosso said he is grateful that he travelled to Namibia to join the search and was impressed with the effort by the authorities and others in conducting the search.
“We had very high hopes going to Namibia. We are glad we went to Namibia. If we had not have come we would have been left with more questions than we have today. We are grateful to the local government and the police for their efforts. The search for Mark was very thorough and professional. We got to meet and know police officers involved from day one in the search for Mark.”
Roy Mokosso added that the police are also disappointed “that we have been unable to find Mark. Again if we would not have come we wouldn't have known the dedication the police put towards the search. We also would not have completely comprehended the size of the Brandberg area.”
Mokosso concluded by noting that the family have not lost hope that they will be able to find closure and be able to find out exactly what happened to their brother.
“Namibia is a very beautiful country, and we hope to return again but under different circumstances. We have made some real connections with people here and have been grateful for all the support.”
JANA-MARI SMITH
“The search has stopped for Mark but the investigation remains open. If any new information is discovered then the search will continue. Mark could not have just vanished,” Roy Mokosso told Namibian Sun yesterday.
Mokosso and two other siblings only recently left Namibia to return home after spending several days alongside authorities and volunteers combing the remote and vast Brandberg area where their brother was last seen.
After the search was called off when all leads ran dry, Mokosso said the family was offering a reward of N$150 000 to anyone who helps to locate Mark Mokosso alive.
The family is also offering a reward of N$50 000 for any information that leads to the recovery of Mokosso's remains, should he not have survived the ordeal.
“We want closure and we do want to know what happened. If there is even the slightest of chances that Mark might be alive, then we will maintain hope. The reward will hopefully help uncover new information,” Roy said yesterday.
He and his siblings have not discounted the possibility that the disappearance of their brother could be related to foul play, and not an accident.
“We will be doing our part to help the police investigation. We will be contacting his bank so they can watch his accounts for activity, we will be sending the police a detailed list of any valuable items Mark might have had on him and we have offered a reward,” Roy Mokosso added.
Mark Mokosso, who arrived in Namibia early in December, vanished more than two weeks ago after he had driven to Brandberg from Swakopmund in a rented car, reportedly to hike through the area.
He was last seen after he parked his vehicle on the D2342 Xoboxobo road and left.
An intense ground and air search was launched by the Namibian authorities, joined by volunteers and family members of the missing man.
The search covered an area of around 750 square kilometres in the desolate area just south of the Brandberg Mountain.
Shortly after Christmas the official search was called off after all leads had led to a dead end.
Roy Mokosso said he is grateful that he travelled to Namibia to join the search and was impressed with the effort by the authorities and others in conducting the search.
“We had very high hopes going to Namibia. We are glad we went to Namibia. If we had not have come we would have been left with more questions than we have today. We are grateful to the local government and the police for their efforts. The search for Mark was very thorough and professional. We got to meet and know police officers involved from day one in the search for Mark.”
Roy Mokosso added that the police are also disappointed “that we have been unable to find Mark. Again if we would not have come we wouldn't have known the dedication the police put towards the search. We also would not have completely comprehended the size of the Brandberg area.”
Mokosso concluded by noting that the family have not lost hope that they will be able to find closure and be able to find out exactly what happened to their brother.
“Namibia is a very beautiful country, and we hope to return again but under different circumstances. We have made some real connections with people here and have been grateful for all the support.”
JANA-MARI SMITH
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