Joseph Jimmy: freedom fighter and bridge builder

By: MVULA YA NANGOLO

ONE of the first staff members of independent Namibia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Joseph Obgeb Jimmy (52), died in the capital on February 2.

Jimmy was the country's first High Commissioner to Zimbabwe, where

he served from 1993 to 1996.

Reflecting on the life of Jimmy - Prime Minister Theo-Ben

Gurirab, and former Minister of Foreign Affairs, said that the

Windhoek-born Jimmy "was a cosmopolitan child of the 'Old Location

culture' we knew before Independence".

 

"He undoubtedly belonged to a precious generation of the

country's young people who listened to and heard the fighting talk

of Swapo leaders ' those at home and those in exile at the time -

they acted in tune with world events," he said.

 

Jimmy was one of those who "learnt about the tragic story of

December 10 1959 at the Old Location in Windhoek and drew correct

lessons and dynamic inspiration from that painful Namibian

experience", he added.

 

Jimmy went into exile at a young age to join the liberation

struggle.

 

Many remember Jimmy's sense of humour "and a clever political

mind which he often used to his advantage. He was fun-loving and

resourceful. He had many friends".

 

Gurirab described him as "a bridge builder, born in the capital

and [who] also lived in the South".

 

Jimmy attended St Peters Primary School at Luderitz and

completed his primary education at the Damara-Nama High School in

Windhoek.

 

He did his secondary education at the Augustineum High School in

Windhoek.

 

He then attended the University of Dar Es Salaam (Adult

Education Division) from 1976 to 1977, studying International

Law.

 

Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs, Dr Kaire Mbuende, said he

had worked with Jimmy in various countries.

 

He said they received military training at Oshatotwa in Zambia's

Western Province, before moving to Lusaka were they lived in the

same house and both worked for the Swapo department of information

and publicity.

 

Mbuende described Jimmy as a generous person.

 

He said whenever he had money, he became 'King' and entertained

his comrades until the last cent was up.

 

In his spare time, he enjoyed reading novels and other

books.

 

"I have known him for quite a number of years and remember the

jokes he used to crack and his generosity whenever he had money and

how he shared with others.

 

We have lost a diplomat not only as a Ministry but as a

country," Mbuende said.

 

Jimmy's last diplomatic posting was as High Commissioner to

Zimbabwe from 1993 to 1996, following which he occupied a senior

position in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs until his death.

 

Jimmy will be buried in Windhoek on February 14.

 

He is survived by seven children; Desmond, Disney, Ronaleen,

Nasky, Dantago, Mutani and Obgeb.

 

CHRONOLOGY

 

* From 1974 to 1975: worked for the Voice of Namibia, Swapo's

radio programme in Lusaka;

 

* from 1975 to 1978: supervisor for the Voice of Namibia in Dar

Es Salaam, Tanzania.

 

* 1978 to 1979: Assistant Secretary for Information and

Political Orientation - Swapo Youth League, in Luanda, Angola.

 

* 1979 to 1982: Deputy Secretary General for the Pan African

Youth Movement in Algiers, Algeria.

 

* 1982 to 1986: Swapo's Chief Representative to the Nordic

Countries, based in Stockholm, Sweden.

 

* 1986 to 1988: Co-ordinator, Protocol and Liaison - Swapo

Department of Foreign Affairs in Luanda, Angola.

 

* 1989 to 1990: Personal Assistant to the Director of the

Windhoek District Elections Office.

 

* From Independence Day: March 21 to October 1990, Director of

Multilateral Affairs, Directorate: Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

 

* 1991 to 1993: Under Secretary at the Ministry of Foreign

Affairs.

 

* October 1990 to August 1991: Charge d'Affaires, Embassy of

Namibia in Ethiopia.

 

* October 1991 to June 1992, Charge d'Affaires at the Embassy of

Namibia in Germany.

 

- Nampa

 

Reflecting on the life of Jimmy - Prime Minister Theo-Ben Gurirab,

and former Minister of Foreign Affairs, said that the Windhoek-born

Jimmy "was a cosmopolitan child of the 'Old Location culture' we

knew before Independence". "He undoubtedly belonged to a precious

generation of the country's young people who listened to and heard

the fighting talk of Swapo leaders ' those at home and those in

exile at the time - they acted in tune with world events," he said.

Jimmy was one of those who "learnt about the tragic story of

December 10 1959 at the Old Location in Windhoek and drew correct

lessons and dynamic inspiration from that painful Namibian

experience", he added. Jimmy went into exile at a young age to join

the liberation struggle. Many remember Jimmy's sense of humour "and

a clever political mind which he often used to his advantage. He

was fun-loving and resourceful. He had many friends". Gurirab

described him as "a bridge builder, born in the capital and [who]

also lived in the South". Jimmy attended St Peters Primary School

at Luderitz and completed his primary education at the Damara-Nama

High School in Windhoek. He did his secondary education at the

Augustineum High School in Windhoek. He then attended the

University of Dar Es Salaam (Adult Education Division) from 1976 to

1977, studying International Law. Deputy Minister for Foreign

Affairs, Dr Kaire Mbuende, said he had worked with Jimmy in various

countries. He said they received military training at Oshatotwa in

Zambia's Western Province, before moving to Lusaka were they lived

in the same house and both worked for the Swapo department of

information and publicity. Mbuende described Jimmy as a generous

person. He said whenever he had money, he became 'King' and

entertained his comrades until the last cent was up. In his spare

time, he enjoyed reading novels and other books. "I have known him

for quite a number of years and remember the jokes he used to crack

and his generosity whenever he had money and how he shared with

others. We have lost a diplomat not only as a Ministry but as a

country," Mbuende said. Jimmy's last diplomatic posting was as High

Commissioner to Zimbabwe from 1993 to 1996, following which he

occupied a senior position in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs until

his death. Jimmy will be buried in Windhoek on February 14. He is

survived by seven children; Desmond, Disney, Ronaleen, Nasky,

Dantago, Mutani and Obgeb. CHRONOLOGY * From 1974 to 1975: worked

for the Voice of Namibia, Swapo's radio programme in Lusaka; * from

1975 to 1978: supervisor for the Voice of Namibia in Dar Es Salaam,

Tanzania. * 1978 to 1979: Assistant Secretary for Information and

Political Orientation - Swapo Youth League, in Luanda, Angola. *

1979 to 1982: Deputy Secretary General for the Pan African Youth

Movement in Algiers, Algeria. * 1982 to 1986: Swapo's Chief

Representative to the Nordic Countries, based in Stockholm, Sweden.

* 1986 to 1988: Co-ordinator, Protocol and Liaison - Swapo

Department of Foreign Affairs in Luanda, Angola. * 1989 to 1990:

Personal Assistant to the Director of the Windhoek District

Elections Office. * From Independence Day: March 21 to October

1990, Director of Multilateral Affairs, Directorate: Ministry of

Foreign Affairs. * 1991 to 1993: Under Secretary at the Ministry of

Foreign Affairs. * October 1990 to August 1991: Charge d'Affaires,

Embassy of Namibia in Ethiopia. * October 1991 to June 1992, Charge

d'Affaires at the Embassy of Namibia in Germany. - Nampa

---