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Beloved Sambyu Priest Dies In Car Crash

By: Annakleta Haikera

The death of a much-loved priest has devasted Rundu’s Catholic community, Charles Chasete Mikaya, from the St. Joseph’s Parish at Shambyu in the Kavango East, who died in a car crash on Tuesday, 24 May.

The accident occurred 22 km from Grootfontein towards Rundu. The tyre of the vehicle he was travelling in allegedly suffered a blowout, which led the vehicle to overturn and catch fire. The deceased travelled with Deacon Angel Mulenge Bwalya, who suffered severe injuries.

Bwalya, however, is recovering satisfactorily in the Grootfontein State hospital. Mikaya is from Malawi but has worked as a priest in Namibia for the past five years, based in Rundu.

According to a statement from the Namibia Catholic Bishops’ Conference (NCBC), Mikaya was a very committed and hardworking priest.

“Fr Charles Chaseta Mikaya, the Parish priest of St. Joseph’s Parish Shambyu, was called to eternal rest this morning, around 11h00, in a car accident. The shocking incident happened around 50 kilometres to Grootfontein as he was driving from Rundu,” the statement by Father Linus Ngenomesho OMI, the Apostolic Administrator of the Vicariate of Rundu said.

Barthlomeus Mungonba, one of the Catholic parish members at Shambyu St. Joseph’s, described the late priest as having a significant impact on the lives of his parishioners.

“The community members of Shambyu and Andara had lost a priest that has had the greatest impact on many people’s lives.

“Father Charles Mikaya had a lot of love for the Catholic Church and its teachings. He was interested in serving people and had the ability to work with others. Father Mikaya was open to different races, ethnic groups and cultures.”

Mungonba told The Villager he was very heartbroken to hear of Mikaya’s passing.

“I am so hurt. The father and I scheduled a meeting for the coming Friday, but it seems God has already called him to be on his right hand. I am going to pray for him every day, and may his soul rest in eternal peace. I will continue encouraging myself with the many scriptures he left me with and forever be faithful to the church.”

Sean Naude of the Namibian Marshall Rangers told The Villager that the grass in the area was aflame after the vehicle caught fire and was spreading to neighbouring farms.

“The accident was a tragic one, which took the life of a well-known priest. The bushes in the area where the accident occurred caught fire after the vehicle burst into flames, but my team managed to contact all the farmers from the surrounding area to look out for a wild spread of fire and to proceed with caution.”

Julia Heita

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