‘HE DIED A HERO!’
• Young soldier shot by rebels while rescuing Tanzanian colleague • Bled out on the battlefield after taking bullet to the thigh
DISPLAYING the bravery he had shown throughout his nine years in the army, on 29th November, Lance Corporal, Zikamee Operi Kamai risked his life to save a wounded comrade.
In the rescue attempt, under heavy fire from Mozambican rebels, the 31-year-old was struck down by a bullet to the thigh.
With the evacuation aircraft unable to land due to the fierce shoot-out taking place on the ground, Kamai bled out on the battlefield.
Laid to rest at his home village of Kareng, deep in the North West, last Saturday, the fallen soldier rightly received a hero’s send-off as family, friends and workmates gathered to say their final goodbyes.
Speaking at the funeral, Special Forces Commander, Major Ditiro Bokwe described his late colleague as a humble hero who served his country with fearless honour and intense pride.
Detailing Kamai’s final moments, Major Bokwe explained they were both part of the Southern African Development Community’s Mission in Mozambique (SAMIM) in Cabo Delgado province.
On Tuesday 29th November, a rebel group in Mozambique attacked Moeda village; Kamai and Bokwe were part of the Special Force team deployed to protect the community under siege.
“It was quite a terrible fight between the rebels and special forces, which took three hours,” explained Bokwe.
During the crossfire, a Tanzanian soldier was hit. With his fellow soldier in desperate need of help, Kamai did not hesitate.
“Some of the soldiers, including Kamai, drove in a bullet proof vehicle to prepare a safe landing spot for the evacuation aircraft. When they had prepared the spot, Kamai was shot by some rebels who were hiding in ambush. Although he was hit on the thigh, help could not come in time as the aircraft which was to rescue them was delayed by attacks from the rebels and he unfortunately lost too much blood.”
Fondly referred to as ‘The Great Yende’ within the army, Kamai joined the Botswana Defence Force (BDF) in 2013.
He quickly proved himself to be an elite soldier and, within six years, became a commando and part of the BDF’S Special Forces.
“He was among 200 soldiers but only 30 soldiers completed and graduated from the training. This is because the kind of training is not for everyone!” said Bokwe.
As well as his exploits with the army, Kamai was known as a friendly, kind man and a doting dad to his little girl. As well as his daughter, he is survived by three brothers and his parents, Topias Patasanee Kamai and Cornelia Ndjoura.
The festive holidays tend to be a jolly time full of excitement, a season where individuals get to enjoy spending time with their loved ones and getting some welldeserved rest after a hectic year.
For those who are going through recovery from substance use disorders or accessing counseling for mental health issues this can be an overwhelming and scary time.
This is because going back to the old places and meeting with old friends, family and relatives can be a relapse trigger. The buzz of the festive holidays can be a trigger for an individual who is in recovery from substances as alcohol and other substances tend to be easily accessible in this season. Going home for the holidays can at times expose one to meeting an uncle, a step-father or cousin who used to sexually abuse you. It can mean you will come across an old lover who broke your heart. For another it can mean having to listen to your parents who are divorced fighting over who will be taking the kids over the holidays. During this time also some people get to look back at what they achieved in the year and if one was unsuccessful in achieving the goals they had set, then one can feel angry, bitter, and worthless and feel like a failure. The festive holidays can unearth unresolved painful memories for some people, therefore there is a need for individuals and families to prepare on how they will survive the holidays if they are still healing emotionally or dealing with a substance use disorders.
Tips that individuals and families can use to survive the holidays;
• Plan ahead where, how and with whom
are you going to spend the holidays.
• Don’t be afraid to say no and stay
home to avoid being triggered.
• Try to stay active to keep your mind occupied to avoid having negative thoughts.
• Withdraw to a quiet and peaceful spot
when you feel provoked or find yourself feeling angry.
• Breathe when you feel stressed or
anxious. The simple act of taking a deep breath can calm us down and lower our heart rate and blood pressure.
• Practice Gratitude: instead of
looking at the things that you did not achieve throughout the year, be thankful for all the efforts and all the
achievements you acquired even those
that appear to be small.
• Talk to someone you trust about
what may be stressing you out.
• Use positive affirmations: Everyday
find time to say positive and encouraging words to yourself.
• Be gentle with yourself and others
during any time of stress during the holidays.
Tips for Managing your drug and alcohol use during festive holidays
• Make a plan for the day. Think ahead about where you’re going, what you’re doing, and the people you’ll be seeing. It’ll make it easier for you to manage
emotions, expectations, and potential triggers.
• Be prepared to feel a little lonely. It’s okay, and it’ll pass. Even if you’re
surrounded by loved ones, the holidays can be a very lonely time for someone in recovery. Give yourself a break. These
feelings are normal, and they won’t
last forever. Try to reflect on all your accomplishments in recovery this year!
• Treat yourself. The holiday season
is a time to indulge, and just because
you’re in recovery doesn’t mean you have
to go without. Grab that extra slice of pie. Stay up late watching movies. Find ways to make yourself feel rewarded, without involving alcohol or drugs.
• Be open about your recovery. It might
sound scary, but I recommend being honest with your loved ones about your recovery journey.
• Holiday cheer doesn’t have to revolve around alcohol. Remember: You don’t
need a drink in your hand to participate in your favorite holiday activities.
Wrapping gifts, spending time with
family are some of the activities you can engage in.
• Remind yourself: substances aren’t
the answer to your problems. The
holidays can be painful and hard. That’s why it’s more important than ever to remember that drinking or using won’t
fix anything.
• Plan who you will call when in need of support. Have someone you can call,
and let them know you might need time to talk.
• If you find yourself a little
overwhelmed at any point in the celebrations, politely excuse yourself.
Those that matter won’t mind, and those that mind don’t matter.
• Reflect on what your recovery means
to you. Remember your why. This is the reason that will motivate you to continue on your recovery journey even during the holidays.
BOSASNET offers counselling services to people experiencing problems with substance use, depression, anxiety, stress, anger management and adjustment issues. If you think that you might have a problem mentioned above, or if you have a friend or family member who does, we encourage you to seek help. For some, it can mean the difference between life and death. You can find BOSASNET on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, visit us on www.bosasnet.com, or call us on 3959119 or 72659891 for more information.