Last respects to Swapo veteran Kambangula

By: DENVER ISAACS

WHILE the Namibian nation paid its last respects to its first National Assembly Speaker this past weekend, a second Swapo veteran and freedom fighter, Frans Kambangula, was also laid to rest in Windhoek on Saturday.

Kambangula, affectionately known as Boetie Fura, served as Swapo's

Secretary of Transport, and was remembered by the Donkerhoek

community this weekend as a father figure who endured considerable

hardship in the struggle for the country's liberation.

He died at his home on Tuesday after battling with diabetes for

many years.

 

Speaking at his memorial service on Friday, his wife Petrina

recalled spending many nights alone while her husband was either

locked in a cell or hiding in the bush from the South African

Defence Force (SADF).

 

"It brought him ill health, but we carried him through this and

he died in the comfort of his own home, in his own bed, and most

importantly, in my loving arms," she told mourners at the Macedonia

Lutheran Church in Katutura.

 

Swapo President and the former President of Namibia, Sam Nujoma,

also paid his respects during the ceremony.

 

He told the family that Kambangula would be remembered for all

he endured for the country's liberation.

 

"He spent many years in jail and detention, and was well known

in party circles as a fearless freedom fighter," Nujoma said.

 

He recalled how Kambangula not only took on the dangerous task

of transporting political activists to and from secret missions,

but also showed people in Windhoek films of battles taking place at

the border, and so influenced many Namibians to stand up for their

rights.

 

"Through this, the idea of freedom was kept alive in the minds

of our people at all times.

 

Swapo party and Namibia lost a revolutionary leader," Nujoma

said.

 

One of Kambangula's close friends, Nora-Schimming Chase of the

Congress of Democrats (COD), described Kambangula as a man who

sought justice, but who was not interested in recognition.

 

Apart from his role in pre-independence politics, Kambangula was

also respected as a member of the Council of Churches in Namibia

(CCN), which was where he met Schimming-Chase about 20 years

ago.

 

He was buried in the Pionierspark Cemetery in Windhoek, and is

survived by his wife, seven children and nine grandchildren.

 

He died at his home on Tuesday after battling with diabetes for

many years.Speaking at his memorial service on Friday, his wife

Petrina recalled spending many nights alone while her husband was

either locked in a cell or hiding in the bush from the South

African Defence Force (SADF)."It brought him ill health, but we

carried him through this and he died in the comfort of his own

home, in his own bed, and most importantly, in my loving arms," she

told mourners at the Macedonia Lutheran Church in Katutura.Swapo

President and the former President of Namibia, Sam Nujoma, also

paid his respects during the ceremony.He told the family that

Kambangula would be remembered for all he endured for the country's

liberation."He spent many years in jail and detention, and was well

known in party circles as a fearless freedom fighter," Nujoma

said.He recalled how Kambangula not only took on the dangerous task

of transporting political activists to and from secret missions,

but also showed people in Windhoek films of battles taking place at

the border, and so influenced many Namibians to stand up for their

rights."Through this, the idea of freedom was kept alive in the

minds of our people at all times.Swapo party and Namibia lost a

revolutionary leader," Nujoma said.One of Kambangula's close

friends, Nora-Schimming Chase of the Congress of Democrats (COD),

described Kambangula as a man who sought justice, but who was not

interested in recognition.Apart from his role in pre-independence

politics, Kambangula was also respected as a member of the Council

of Churches in Namibia (CCN), which was where he met

Schimming-Chase about 20 years ago.He was buried in the

Pionierspark Cemetery in Windhoek, and is survived by his wife,

seven children and nine grandchildren.

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