A Tsumeb family was recently left distraught after realising they buried the wrong body, instead of that of their loved one.
They are blaming the Namibian Police.
The police, however, have for the past week not responded to several calls, WhatsApp messages and emails on the matter.
A senior police officer at the Otavi Police Station has acknowledged the matter, but has referred The Namibian to the regional commander and a police spokesperson.
The involved family says they are now struggling to raise funds to give their relative, Andries Awaseb, a decent burial.
Speaking to Desert Radio yesterday, the family revealed that Awaseb’s body has been in the mortuary for months.
Clara Gawases, Lydia and Teckla Thomas, all nieces of the deceased, shared their experience, with a translator known as ‘Ricardo’ only, translating from Damara/Nama to English.
They said Awaseb has been in the mortuary since May, and they were given remains to bury on 26 May.
Gawases said they only noticed in August that they had buried the wrong person.
“The man who works at the mortuary realised this, but by then the body had already been buried.
He notified the police of the situation, which then contacted Awaseb’s relatives, Gawases said.
This mistake could have been averted had there been a body viewing at the memorial service, but Gawases said the family was instructed by the police not to do so, since Awaseb’s remains were partly decomposed.
Gawases said upon discovering they have buried the wrong person, the family went back to the mortuary at Otavi to identify Awaseb’s body.
Clara Thomas said the family is yet to bury Awaseb due to a lack of finances.
“We already spent so much on burying the wrong remains, and now our very own is still lying in the mortuary,” she said.
Clara said the family was initially waiting outside the mortuary for Awaseb’s remains to be delivered to them.
“Police officers already drove with the remains out of Otavi heading towards Tsumeb. Meanwhile, the funeral undertakers were on their way from Tsumeb, so they met about 10 kilometres outside Otavi.
“The body was loaded into their vehicle by the police, who then returned to Otavi without knowing about those waiting outside the mortuary,” Clara said.
She said the family needs help to bury Awaseb.
They only got an apology from the police, she said.
“A police officer who identified himself as inspector Snewe visited the family on the instruction of his superiors, and apologised. Nampol is yet to assist in any way.
“So far we’ve been given a casket, and the undertakers have also been arranged, but we do not know where that help came from,” Clara said.
Police regional commander for the Oshikoto region, commissioner Teopoline Kalompo-Nashikaku, said she was yet to be informed of the incident.
“Give me some time to ask around, and I will get back to you,” she said.
Kalompo-Nashikaku later referred the matter to the Otjozondjupa regional commander, commissioner Henrich Tjiveze, whose phone went unanswered.
Police spokesperson for the Otjozondjupa region, Maureen Mbeha, could not be reached either.
Neither Tjiveze nor Mbeha responded to WhatsApp messages by the time of going to print.
Clinical psychologist Shaun Whittaker said it must be stressful for the relatives to experience the bereavement process all over again.
“They are going through disappointment and anger all at the same time. It is unfair,” he said yesterday.
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