Hailstorm leaves Sangwali, Nongozi counting losses

SANGWALI – Residents of Sangwali and surrounding communities in the Nongozi area are counting their losses after an unusually severe hailstorm descended on the area on Tuesday evening, damaging houses, vehicles, livestock and household property.

Nongozi is located 164 kilometres away from Katima Mulilo within two national parks, namely Mudumo and Nkasa Rupara.

The storm, which was accompanied by strong winds, heavy rain, lightning and large hailstones, left parts of the community covered in ice, with residents describing the weather event as something they had never witnessed in their lifetime.

When New Era visited the area on Wednesday, hailstones were still visible in many courtyards, with many residents left shocked despite the storm having hit the previous day.

Retired Lieutenant Colonel Frederick Jeremiah Matota of Nongozi area in Sangwali said the storm struck at around 17h45 while he was inside his house.

Only two people were at home at the time – Matota and his mother, who were in a traditional hut.

“When I opened the window, I just saw my property had been damaged. But thank God that there was no life lost,” he said.

Matota said the storm lasted about 30 minutes and caused extensive damage to his property, including his house, windows, and vehicles.

He estimates the damage to his property, including two vehicles, could exceed N$50 000, depending on repair quotations.

He has appealed to the government, organisations and Good Samaritans to assist affected families.

“We ask for assistance, from wherever, whatever level – national or local level – that they can come to our aid and come to our rescue,” Matota said.

The retired soldier was also left puzzled by the unusual hailstones, some of which he described as hard rocks.

The hail covered the ground so extensively that the area appeared white, resembling a snow-covered landscape.

“The whole area was covered with stones. It was all over white here. There was no sand like this. We were shocked to see such a thing in this type of season, which we never experienced ever in our life,” he said.

Matota said residents also found unusually hard pieces of material and called for experts to examine them to establish what they are.

He said several other residents in the surrounding area also suffered damage.

‘We almost died’

For Ashanti Winyandire Sosu, the storm was a terrifying experience.

Sosu said she was cooking outside when the rain suddenly intensified.

She rushed into the main house with the cooking pot, leaving her grandmother behind in a resting place outside.

When she later went outside to check on her grandmother, she was struck by the hailstones.

“The stones were falling on my head, and it was very painful,” Sosu said.

She eventually used a mat to shield a disabled child and her grandmother from the hail before covering the old woman with blankets.

With the water rising inside the courtyard and the hail continuing to pound the area, Sosu said they had to take shelter in a smaller structure.

Her elderly grandmother could not run due to her advanced age, leaving Sosu uncertain about how to get her to safety.

“We just decided to sit here. Here in the corner is where we were standing, covering them with the blanket,” she said.

The storm eventually subsided, but the damage remained. Sosu said large pieces of ice were still lying around the homestead the following day (Wednesday).

“Since I was born, in our generation, we never see such a thing in our life. We wanted to die,” she said.

She was also concerned about where her grandmother and other family members would sleep after their beds and parts of the homestead were damaged.

Cattle killed

In Nongozi, 68-year-old pensioner Chrisban Bernard Makwele said he had never witnessed such a disaster in his lifetime.

Makwele said the storm struck around 20h00 while he was inside his house with family members.

A cattle herder later alerted him that one of their cattle had been struck by the storm.

“When we went there, all the way where we were walking, there were only stones. When you just step there, it’s just full of them,” he said.

Makwele remained near the injured animal for several hours, eventually returning home around 01h00.

By morning, the cow had died. He said parts of the animal’s back had been badly damaged, and he eventually skinned it after failing to secure assistance.

Makwele said the storm also destroyed household property, including plastic dishes, while hailstones remained scattered around the homestead.

“As a pensioner, it is difficult for us to get some material or whatever it is. It is destroyed. So, the government should take this as a serious measure because we haven’t seen such a thing,” he said.

Houses damaged, chickens died

Lushika village headman Richwell Makwele said the storm struck his area at around 17h30, accompanied by strong winds and heavy rain.

He said trees were uprooted or damaged, while houses, household utensils, and livestock were affected.

“Chickens are gone with the rain,” he said, adding that a cow also died.

The headman appealed to the government to assist affected residents, particularly those who lost livestock.

Susan Mathe, also from Nongozi, described extensive damage to houses, vehicles, and livestock.

“When I woke up in the morning, I found my chickens lying dead,” Mathe said.

She added that the hailstones were so large and heavy that they damaged roofs and other structures.

Elderly residents seek help

Josephine Samupwa (74) was among residents whose homestead was damaged.

Samupwa, who was in her courtyard when the storm struck, saw parts of her house and courtyard damaged, as well as a dead goat and chicken.

Samupwa appealed for financial assistance to rebuild her damaged structures.

She said she needs materials such as reeds and grass to restore her house and courtyard. – [email protected]

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