‘Ambitious, hardworking and sweet’ Cheryl finally laid to rest

Nine-year-old Cheryl Avihe Ujaha’s grandfather, Pastor Seth Kaimu, says he will always remember his granddaughter as “ambitious, hardworking and sweet”.
Cheryl, whose brutal maiming and murder rocked the nation to its very core, was finally laid to rest earlier today at Windhoek’s Gammams Cemetery.
The discovery of her dismembered body less than a fortnight ago led to a massive public outcry, including for the return of the death penalty, in a country grappling with increasing incidents of shocking violence against women and children.
Scores of mourners, including former president, Hifikepunye Pohamba, as well as first lady, Monica Geingos, attended Cheryl’s funeral, bringing the curtain down on an intense period for the nation. But the scars will remain. She was by all accounts an intelligent and sporty child, with a bright future ahead of her.
During the church service, held at El Shaddai Ministries, Geingos urged mourners to stop speculating about her killer or killers, while pleading with the family to not just simply remember how her body was discovered.
Geingos said Cheryl’s death had forced Namibians to reflect.
“Avihe has reminded us to love, Avihe has reminded us of the power of unity; Avihe’s family has reminded us to forgive. A nine-year-old was taken, so that the nation can learn,” the first lady said.
Pastor Kaimu reiterated a statement he made following the news of her death, in which he said he would forgive her killer or killers.
The police earlier this week increased the reward for information leading to the arrest of her killer or killers to N$100 000.
OGONE TLHAGE