Twaloloka fire

Twaloloka Fire was a massive fire that swept through township homes in the Twaloloka informal settlement of the Namibian coastal town of Walvis Bay on Sunday 26 July 2020 destroying houses and leaving hundreds homeless.[1][2][3] The disaster sparked political debate with many accusing the ruling SWAPO party of having "neglected the plights of the poor".[4]

Twaloloka Fire
A Twaloloka woman watches on as her belongings burn down
LocationWalvis Bay
Statistics
Date(s)26 July 2020
19h00 CAT
CauseUnknown
Deaths1

Public reactions

Following reports of the fires, ordinary Namibians began to use social media to mobilize resources and request for help for the residents of the informal settlement while the government appealed for calm from the citizens.[5]

Opposition political parties of such as Popular Democratic Movement and the Landless People's Movement blamed the SWAPO led government of having given 'lip service' to the housing crisis in the country. Affirmative repositioning movement leader Job Amupanda took to twitter to call upon the local residents to occupy vacant the mass housing project houses.[6]

Aftermath and rebuilding

Following the fire, members of the community began to donate materials and funds towards the rebuilding of the settlement stating that the people needed not to wait for SWAPO anymore. A GoFundMe account was set up while PDM leader while the Affirmative Repositioning movement stationed its activists to collect donations across the country while Landless People's Movement stationed financial help. Opposition leader, McHenry Venaani donated 200 blankets and 100 mattresses while the SWAPO party which had been criticized for its handling of the housing crisis made donations through Prime Minister Saara Kuogongelwa Amadilla donated pallets of food, mattresses and tents.[7]

Following the fire, the informal settlement was renamed to Otweya.[8]

References
  1. Niilenge, Taati (27 July 2020). "Twaloloka residents accommodated in tents". The Namibian.
  2. Iikela, Sakeus (27 July 2020). "Geingob regrets loss of life at Twaloloka". The Namibian.
  3. Ngutjinazo, Okeri (27 July 2020). "Police warn of possible Twaloloka scams". The Namibian.
  4. Ngutjinazo, Okeri (27 July 2020). "PDM blames Twaloloka fire on council's relocation failure". The Namibian.
  5. "Government appeals for calm after Twaloloka inferno". Namibia Broadcasting Corporation. 27 July 2020.
  6. Niilenge, Taati (27 July 2020). "Twaloloka residents' cry for help". The Namibian.
  7. Guchu, Wonder (27 July 2020). "Twaloloka fire kills 2-year-old boy". Eagle FM.
  8. https://www.namibian.com.na/203065/archive-read/From-Twaloloka-to-Otweya | From Twaloloka to Otweya - The Namibian

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