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Namibia mourns a hero
THIRTEEN days of high emotion drew to a close at the weekend, as the Namibian nation bade farewell to the man who spent close to 40 years tirelessly working to improve the lives of others.
Described as a brave lion, conciliator, nationalist, teacher, humble servant, poet, musician and torch-bearer, Reverend Hendrik Witbooi’s mortal remains were accompanied to his grave by 50 horse riders, the army brass band, people wearing various traditional outfits and many others in dark suits and glasses who streamed into Gibeon to pay tribute to him.
Many others lined the roads of Rehoboth, Kalkrand, Mariental and Gibeon, and came as they were – wearing shorts and sandals – to watch a piece of history as Namibians bade a final farewell to Witbooi during three days of national ceremonies that ended yesterday when he was laid to rest.
Many of those who spoke during the traditional church service on Saturday said the curtain had come down on the life of a pastor, politician, teacher, community activist and freedom fighter who did not compromise on his beliefs.
Speaker after speaker spoke of his passion for his work, his love for his family and courage as an anti-apartheid activist.
“October 13 2009 will go down in our history as one of the saddest days; Namibia lost a nationalist,” President Hifike-punye Pohamba said.
He said Witbooi the freedom fighter, beloved traditional leader, educator, pastor, husband, father, friend and hero was no more, but his legacy will live on.
Pohamba also announced that the Gibeon cemetery will become “one of the shrines of the Namibian revolutionary historical monuments” in Namibia.
Namibia’s first President Sam Nujoma described Witbooi as a fearless and dedicated fighter who devoted his house at Gibeon during the height of the liberation struggle to accommodate former Plan combatants who were legally known as sheep herders and building contractors but clandestinely bombed many bridges all over Namibia.
“The lion is no more,” Nujoma said.
Witbooi was also a husband and a loving family man.
In a tribute at the Friday State service, the widow, Johanna Sophia Witbooi, called her husband “a true servant of God” and said many had abandoned her husband because of their relationship and she was already missing his protection.
Acting Kaptein of the /Khowesen Christian Rooi said Witbooi lifted the standard of living of his clan and “it will only depend on us whether we will bow down or continue from where he left us”.
“We didn’t drink from the same breast but we had the same thinking. It is a very difficult day for me because he was my protector. The stones he protected me from will now come directly to me,” Rooi told a crowd of around 5 000 people who attended the funeral yesterday.
At 08h45, the family handed over Witbooi’s body to the State after he was with them throughout Saturday night as hundreds paid their last respects at the residence.
Yesterday morning around 1 000 soldiers, including the brass band, navy and the air force, walked the last kilometre to the graveyard on the banks of the world famous Fish River.
They were joined by senior Swapo members Dr Libertina Amathila, Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, Immanuel Ngatjizeko, Asser Kapere and Petrus Ilonga who walked next to the casket as it entered the cemetery.
He was entombed next to his second wife, Paula ‘Khoes’ Witbooi, better known as !Gas, who died in September 2003.
As his previous personal advisor, Francis Kooper said: “All good things come to an end”.
Witbooi (75) died almost two weeks ago after a battle with prostate cancer.
He leaves behind his wife, Johanna Sofia Witbooi, six children, 21 grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.
