Several families in five villages in Kavango East's Ndiyona Constituency were left homeless after a rainstorm destroyed their houses.

Some of those affected include pensioners, who now need assistance to rebuild their homes.

The rainy season is here, and many villagers who are dependent on their crop fields for food are excited.

But it is welcomed with mixed feelings by the residents of Katere, Hoha, and Rucara villages, who lost many belongings in a recent thunderstorm.

"It is really bad; I lost everything; my TV, microwave, and all furniture are destroyed; I only managed to get the bed out; I am unemployed, and I really do not know what to do."

"You do not even know where to start; I am a pensioner; we will really need assistance, at least zinc; right now there is nowhere to sleep; I am just squatting in the children's hut."

"At daybreak, we started picking up pieces of zinc that could still be used, so that we could build a shack at least to shelter from this rain, but we really don't know where to turn for help." 

The storm, accompanied by heavy rain and thunderstorms, lasted about two hours.

The villagers say it was a frightening experience watching their roofs fly in the air; fortunately, no one was injured.

Ndiyona Constituency Councillor Launtius Mukoya says an assessment is being conducted to determine the extent of damage and the number of families affected.

Mukoya says a report will then be submitted to the regional disaster risk management committee for consideration.

The Divundu Village Council Chairperson, Katoima Kupembona, says the heavy rain experienced at Divundu last night also affected several families.

Kupembona says many families, especially those living in temporary and traditional structures, had to be relocated.

He could, however, not give the total number of people affected as the assessment is ongoing.

Several videos captured by residents are circulating on social media platforms, showing a number of sites at Divundu flooded from the heavy downpours.