Bishop Kauluma hailed as hero

SEVERAL speakers at the funeral service of the late Anglican Bishop James Kauluma hailed him as not only a church leader, but also a freedom fighter.

Kauluma was buried at Ongula ya Netanga village in the Ohangwena Region on Saturday. The funeral was attended by many high-ranking officials, including President Hifikepunye Pohamba and Prime Minister Nahas Angula.Kauluma’s brother, Senior Headman of Ongula yaNetanga Peter Kauluma, asked why he was not buried at the Heroes’ Acre in Windhoek in recognition of his contribution to the liberation struggle.The former Secretary General of the Council of Churches in Namibia (CCN), Abisai Sheyavali, blamed Government leaders for forgetting their church comrades who worked hand in hand with them during the liberation struggle.He said church leaders like late Bishop Kauluma of the Anglican Church, Bishop Leonard Auala of ELCIN, Bishop Kleopas Dumeni of ELCIN and Bishop Bonifatius Haushiku of the Roman Catholic Church deserved to be honoured as heroes for the contributions they made to Namibia’s independence.”But now it seems the Government leaders are slowly but surely forgetting the church leaders and their contribution,” Sheyavali said.He also lambasted Government leaders for not paying their church dues.”Although they are getting high salaries, they are not prepared to give one tenth of the salaries to the church as should be the case with all our church members,” Sheyavali said.”Where are the churches, the church leaders, going to get their support? We were supported by foreign countries before Independence, do we still have to go and beg from foreign countries in our independent Namibia?” Former ELCIN Bishop Kleopas Dumeni told the mourners that he and Kauluma were secretly Swapo Central Committee members before Independence.In his speech, President Pohamba agreed that Kauluma was not only a church leader but also a freedom fighter and he needed to be honoured for that.”All that you have said, I agree with, but there is a saying in English that the water is already under the bridge.I have taken notes and we can discuss further about these matters,” the President said.He told the mourners that Kauluma was his friend while he was working in the Tsumeb mine and they stayed in contact after he went into exile.The funeral was attended by many high-ranking officials, including President Hifikepunye Pohamba and Prime Minister Nahas Angula.Kauluma’s brother, Senior Headman of Ongula yaNetanga Peter Kauluma, asked why he was not buried at the Heroes’ Acre in Windhoek in recognition of his contribution to the liberation struggle.The former Secretary General of the Council of Churches in Namibia (CCN), Abisai Sheyavali, blamed Government leaders for forgetting their church comrades who worked hand in hand with them during the liberation struggle.He said church leaders like late Bishop Kauluma of the Anglican Church, Bishop Leonard Auala of ELCIN, Bishop Kleopas Dumeni of ELCIN and Bishop Bonifatius Haushiku of the Roman Catholic Church deserved to be honoured as heroes for the contributions they made to Namibia’s independence.”But now it seems the Government leaders are slowly but surely forgetting the church leaders and their contribution,” Sheyavali said.He also lambasted Government leaders for not paying their church dues.”Although they are getting high salaries, they are not prepared to give one tenth of the salaries to the church as should be the case with all our church members,” Sheyavali said.”Where are the churches, the church leaders, going to get their support? We were supported by foreign countries before Independence, do we still have to go and beg from foreign countries in our independent Namibia?” Former ELCIN Bishop Kleopas Dumeni told the mourners that he and Kauluma were secretly Swapo Central Committee members before Independence.In his speech, President Pohamba agreed that Kauluma was not only a church leader but also a freedom fighter and he needed to be honoured for that.”All that you have said, I agree with, but there is a saying in English that the water is already under the bridge.I have taken notes and we can discuss further about these matters,” the President said.He told the mourners that Kauluma was his friend while he was working in the Tsumeb mine and they stayed in contact after he went into exile.