Sarukwe Village: The Governor of the Kavango West Region, Verna Sinimbo, on Tuesday urged the public to be vigilant in matters of food safety. She said this on a solemn visit to the Kasera family in Sarukwe village following the tragic deaths of two children due to suspected food poisoning. In the presence of the bereaved family, community members, and the village headwoman, Sinimbo expressed heartfelt condolences and reiterated the need for collective vigilance in matters of food safety.

According to Namibia Press Agency, Sinimbo emphasised the importance of unity between the community and government in preventing such incidents and pledged government support for the affected family and the broader community. "Losing two children from one family is not easy. We cannot leave the family alone to cope with this situation," Sinimbo said. She also visited the Rundu State Hospital, where she assessed the condition of Kasera Andreas and his son, Andreas Peter Chilemo, who remains in critical care. She assured the family of continued monitoring and support from relevant authorities.

Ncuncuni Constituency councillor Leopoldine Nseu has cast doubt over the recent food poisoning incident that claimed two lives and left others fighting for their lives in Sarukwe village, Kavango West, calling for deeper scrutiny. "Even if we raise awareness, we still don't know if this is food poisoning? There's no lab result confirming they were poisoned. It's just alleged," Nseu said. The councillor also cautioned residents about food safety and hygiene, advising them to ensure cleanliness of utensils and caution when borrowing them from neighbors.

This marks the third reported food-related incident in Sarukwe village this year. Nseu expressed worry that the region is gaining an unfortunate reputation for food poisoning cases and called for urgent clarity on what is truly behind these incidents. During the visit, the governor was accompanied by the chairperson of the Kavango West Regional Council, Joseph Sivaku, Nseu, and the Swapo Party regional coordinator for Kavango West, Elina Diparo.