25/11/2025
**Tinjipak: A Story of Struggle, Destruction and Hope**
*By Willie Kombua*
Tinjipak is a remote village resting on a beautiful plateau at the foot of Wambup Mountain. It was here that the first Lutheran missionaries set foot and established their initial mission station before moving on to plant others throughout Kandep.
After the missionaries departed, a new generation of local leaders rose to continue their work. The late Cr. Weka Tamu, Mr. Kombua Maunderen—a dedicated teacher from Madang—and Mr. Amos Ainyo from Talyokos worked tirelessly to establish Wambup Lutheran Primary School and the Tinjipak Aid Post. The Aid Post was later upgraded to the Tinjipak Lutheran Sub-Health Centre through the efforts of people like Mr. Gabriel Apel, Kombua Maunderen and the late Yowan Dire of Walupim.
Everyone has a place they call home, and for me, that place is Tinjipak. But in 2006, tribal fights—largely politically influenced—reduced my beautiful home to nothing. Families fled, services collapsed, and Tinjipak became a deserted memory.
Hope began to return in 2018 when the former Member for Kandep, Hon. Alfred Manase, rebuilt Wambup Primary School. Two double classrooms and staff houses were constructed, allowing the school to reopen. The Enga Provincial Government later added another double classroom.
Under the Naim Taengem Piman initiative, Headmaster Mr. Daniel James personally funded and built another double classroom, which was officially opened on 24 October 2025 by GC Sir Peter Ipatas.
As part of the same initiative, I took the step to rebuild the outpatient facility to revive the Tinjipak Lutheran Health Centre. The project is nearing completion, and through the timely support of GC Sir Peter Ipatas—with his commitment of K100,000—the original plan for an outpatient building has expanded to include a duplex for staff accommodation. We are grateful to the Enga Provincial Government for their strong support.
The people of Tinjipak have learned firsthand that tribal fighting brings nothing but devastation. Since the ceasefire, they and the Akulya tribe have lived peacefully for more than a decade. They have proved that change is possible. They regret the loss of essential services and now take genuine initiative to rebuild their community with their own hands.
As part of my contribution to this rebuilding process, I will also begin construction of my private residence in December this year—another step toward restoring life and confidence in our land.
Finally, I appeal to all tribes across Enga who are still engaged in tribal conflicts: regret will come, but it will come too late—often ten years later when the damage is beyond repair. Rebuilding a destroyed community is not easy; it takes decades. It is better to cease fighting now, reconcile quickly, and protect the future of our children. Tribal fighting brings nothing but destruction. It threatens all development in Enga Province.
Let us choose peace.
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