Renthia Kaimbi
Nearly five years after Walvis Bay became the epicentre of the country’s Covid-19 pandemic, the Narraville cemetery is finally being secured.
The site holds the grave of the first Namibian to die from the virus and has long remained unprotected.
The project, led by the Walvis Bay Municipality, includes building a perimeter wall and a formal gated entrance.
The grave of a 45-year-old man who died in July 2020, was buried under strict health protocols.
Over the years, its exposed state caused distress for residents and the victim’s family.
His sister, Suoma Kashava, told the Windhoek Observer that the family pressured the council to secure the area so they could place a tombstone.
“There is nothing to be happy about from our side, because if it wasn’t for us wanting to put up a tombstone for my brother, I don’t think that wall would have been there. The tombstone arrived in Walvis Bay from the north a year ago, but the undertaker was unable to access the grave,” she said.
Community leaders welcomed the progress. They said the first Covid-19 victim brought attention to the cemetery, but the project also honours others who will be buried there in the future.
“Seeing the grave exposed was a constant, painful reminder of those difficult days,” said Tarance Cook, a Narraville resident living near the site.
“We could not find peace knowing that the resting place of this man wasn’t respected or protected. This wall is more than just a wall. It is giving dignity back to him and finally allowing his family to heal.”
Walvis Bay municipality spokesperson Anita Kaihiva confirmed that the construction is in its final stages.
