A family of seven in Katima Mulilo's Cowboy settlement was left without shelter after a fire burnt down their dwellings this morning.

The family lost belongings estimated at N$30,000.

It is alleged that the fire was caused by a 20-year-old relative who does not live there, who came to charge his phone,

A devastated occupant of the house, Nakwezi Mukasa, narrated the incident.

"We were not around the house; we were at Diary Cemetery. We have a routine on some Sundays to go and clean my little brother's graveyard. We left these kids at home and one other lady who was going to Liselo. While on our way back, I saw my daughter running to me, telling me my mother's house is on fire, and that's how I started running to come here. When I arrived here, I found everything in the house was burnt; nothing came out of it. Imagine tomorrow is Monday, and my children have to go to school. From books to school uniforms and shoes, everything is burnt. Where am I going to start?"

Suburb chairperson for cowboy Oscar Lubanda called on good Samaritans and the government to assist the family.

"To those who can help, to assist our residents who have lost their belongings, or the regional council or the local authority, if there is any urgency to help these people, they can call me."

Fire chief officer Cornelius Matomola said they are assisting the family with temporary accommodation.

"We are pitching a tent for these guys to use temporarily, and then we will take it up from there and see if we can still support them in terms of how the family can survive from there. There is also a need for people to call on time so that we can be able to respond, but we managed; the fire was suppressed, and everything at the moment is under control."