The 16 deceased members of the Shishugho family were buried today at Kayova Village in Kavango East's Ndiyona Constituency.

A large number of mourners from the region and beyond gathered to pay their last respects.

At the memorial service on Friday, speaker after speaker described the incident as among the darkest in the country's history.

The Shishugho family, many of whom were children, tragically lost their lives in a matter of days after consuming a meal two weeks ago.

Kavango East Governor Bonifatius Wakudumo called on residents to support the bereaved family and avoid rumour-mongering as to what killed them.

Wakudumo says laboratory test results are still pending and will be communicated to the immediate family once they are available.

Among other speakers consoling the bereaved family was Works and Transport Minister John Mutorwa, who advised them to unite in the face of the tragedy.

Defence and Veterans Affairs Minister Frans Kapofi said Cabinet received the message of deaths with heavy hearts.

At least 18 members of the same family were admitted to Nyangana Roman Catholic Hospital and the Rundu State Hospital after eating porridge prepared from mahangu floors.

The mahangu is said to have been residue from a local alcoholic beverage known as Mundevere.

Sixteen of them, aged between the ages of two and 33, died in local hospitals.