News : Iowa\'s Congolese community unites to help Highway 30 accident victims

The tragic accident on Highway 30 claimed the lives of three Congolese Iowans who came to the U.S. to flee the unrest and violence that has plagued much of Africa.

The three men who died in the accident early last Thursday morning had recently moved to Iowa. They were in a vanload of immigrants headed toward the Iowa Premium Beef packing plant in Tama, where many of the immigrants had found their first jobs.

Immigrants came to America, with the goal of learning English, finding meaningful work and then bringing their families, if possible, to live here, says Boumedien Kasha, the Vice President of the Congolese Community of Iowa (CCI).

Kasha said the three men who died in that accident have only been living in Iowa for a few months.

The deceased include:
1. Michka Kabeya, age 34. He was married and has a daughter who is 7. His wife is one of the survivors. She's at UIHC in critical condition. He arrived in the USA in October 2015, with a lottery visa.
2. Dickson Mandiki, age 36, also married with one child. His wife lives in Illinois. He had moved to Cedar Rapids recently for job opportunity. He has been in the USA for less than 6 months. He also came with the lottery visa.
3. Platini Namputu, age 30. He was single and arrived in the USA in November 2015 with a lottery visa.

All three are from the Democratic Republic of Congo. Hundreds of Congolese refugees have ended up in Iowa in the past few years, and have formed a community to help each other.

A fund has been set up to help cover funeral expenses, said Kasha.

The funeral service for all three has been set for Saturday, March 5, at River Community Church in Iowa City (across the street from the Gay and Ciha Funeral Home, which is handling arrangements. Viewing takes place from 10 a.m. to noon; the service begins at noon, with burial in North Liberty Cemetery. Fellowship for the families and mourners will take place from 3 to 6 p.m. in the North Liberty Recreation Center.

A memorial account for the victims has been opened at Wells Fargo Bank under Congolese Victims Memorial Fund / Iowa, Acct #: 5599 66 9818, Routing #: 500 106 213.

Many members of the Congolese community have a strong Christian faith; some leaders have been speaking at churches throughout Iowa. Central Assembly of God Church in Cedar Rapids is among the places where these people have gathered.

For more information about how to help, contact Kasha at sasakasha4@hotmail.com.