Mukwahepo: Women Soldier Mother

7. Returning Home

7 RETURNING HOME Ileft the transit camp in Luanda in August 1989 and, together with my five children and Comrade Kaino, flew to Ondangwa via Lubango. On arrival at Ondangwa airport, we were greeted by a jubilant group of SWAPO supporters who had come to welcome us and to look out for their relatives who had gone into exile. Oh, I was extremely delighted to see our people, young and old, men and women, joyfully welcoming us back to our motherland. Some of the people had walked long distances from their homes and villages to Ondangwa airport just to welcome us home. We were told during the briefing we received at the airport that these people had stood for hours waiting for us, determined to give us a heroic welcome. And they did not just stand and gaze at us. No, they sang revolutionary SWAPO songs. Some of the songs I was familiar with; others I had not heard before. I realised then that singing was an art form that people used to show their solidarity and comradeship. I was overjoyed at our peaceful return. This was a dream come true. The determination shown by our people who had bravely come to welcome us at the airport, in broad daylight and despite the presence of the apartheid military and police, made me feel strongly that, yes, indeed, independence was coming. We joyfully climbed onto the big trucks that were waiting to transport us from the Ondangwa airport to the Engela Reception Centre. ****** Whilst at Engela, I found out that my mother had passed away. I was also told that my uncle, Haimini yaHalweendo, who had brought me up, was also deceased, as was his wife, my aunt. This news was a blow to my spirit and tore apart my mental preparedness for this homecoming. I was shocked. I was told that their son, Viitu yaHaimini, now lived at their homestead. Although this was my only consolation, I did not know whether Viitu would take kindly to accepting responsibility for me and my children. Mukwahepo – woman soldier mother 114 This was a big problem for me. I was seriously concerned about where I would be going. I felt bad about the deaths of my mother and my paternal uncle. I had looked forward to seeing my mother. I had strong yearnings to see her, to hug her and tell her how much I had missed her and longed for her. I wanted to tell her that I had returned from exile. But she was no more. I felt sad. As a returnee, I had to look forward and be hopeful. Yet the news of my mother’s death devastated my spirit. I tried to stop thinking about my loss, but no matter how hard I tried to suppress the thoughts and feelings, they kept coming back. As the saying goes in my mother tongue, ‘Omukulunhu ohali ohonde notwila.’ This means that an elder has to eat blood and pus. There was no time to lose. I had five children and Kaino, and I needed to make a plan. The staff at Engela helped me to send a message to Kaino’s family. A week later, her relatives came to take her home. I was very happy to see that she came from a very warm and loving family. Having delivered Kaino to her relatives, my conscience was clear and I could continue with my journey to the Odibo Reception Centre with my five children. Odibo is situated about forty-five kilometres northeast of Ondangwa. The reception centre there was the closest one to my home village, Onengali yaKaluvi. Although I was close to home, I decided that the best thing to do would be to stay on at the centre until our things arrived in Ondangwa from Luanda. Going home with five children and not even a blanket to sleep on would be expecting too much of the people who would have to put us up. Our things eventually arrived at Ondangwa airport. I did not have a car to collect them and bring them to Odibo, and I did not know anyone who had a car. Luckily, the officials who had received us, as well as the leaders of our group, were very concerned about me. This may have been because of my advanced age. I was happy to see that the people at the reception centre were trying to make life easier for the old and the fragile. Every...