A family from the Mukwanagobe settlement on the outskirts of Ombili in Windhoek lost their home to a fire.

All the family's belongings were razed to the ground, leaving them with only the clothes on their back.

The owner of the dwelling which burnt down, Josephine Nambinga, said her family was lucky to escape the fire, as they were not at home during the time it started.

She said a neighbour called her to inform her that her house was on fire, and she rushed home to find everything charred.   

"When I heard this news of the fire that burnt my ghetto, it made me feel bad because I was told around ten in the morning and there was no one in the house. We went to work, and the children left for school. I am grateful that the house burnt in the afternoon and not in the night because if it burnt in the night, we would have lost a human life."

The Swapo Party Women's Council Secretary Fransina Kahungu and the Deputy Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Land Reform Ruthy Maseke individually contributed some building materials for the construction of the house.

Maseke says the assistance may not be enough to rebuild the house, but it is nonetheless a starting point for the family. 

"I stand here with a deep sense of solidarity and compassion to bring a small contribution towards the situation that happened unprepared. Fire comes like an accident. We really want to appreciate God's mercy that there was no life lost."

Masake further called on other individuals and organisations to reach out to the family and contribute towards efforts to rebuild.