Disbelief over Minister Pandeni’s death

THE sudden death on Friday of Local and Regional Government and Housing, John Pandeni, has left people across the nation in shock.

Pandeni was killed in a car accident on the Kombat-Grootfontein road early on Friday morning. “It is with shock and disbelief that I have learnt of the untimely death of your dear husband today,” President Hifikepunye Pohamba said in a letter of condolences sent to Mrs Julia Pandeni on Friday afternoon.”He was a patriot, a defender of peace, national reconciliation and one of the pillars of the People’s Liberation Army of Namibia (Plan) as well as the Swapo Party,” the President added.”It is such a great shock for all of us,” Erastus Negonga, Permanent Secretary in Pandeni’s Ministry, told The Namibian on Friday afternoon.”It is as if being paralysed, I cannot work properly today.Yesterday I still spoke to him,” an official, who worked closely with the Minister’s office, confided in The Namibian.Pandeni was on an official trip to the Caprivi Region.His death came barely two days after the passing of another prominent politician left Namibians stunned.Opposition Parliamentarian Kala Gertze died of an asthma attack at his Windhoek home on Wednesday.Prime Minister Nahas Angula made the official announcement of Pandeni’s death by mid-morning on Friday.”On behalf of President Hifikepunye Pohamba (who was on his way to Oshakati) I regret to announce that Minister John Alphons Pandeni died in a road accident this morning at about 07h30 between Kombat and Grootfontein,” the brief statement said.According to the Police, the new off-road vehicle Minister Pandeni was travelling in overturned several times after the driver lost control on a bend in the road.The Minister, his driver and his bodyguard were flung out of the vehicle and the Minister landed in a canal, where the Police found his body.Police also had to pull the vehicle out of the water.The driver and the body­guard were seriously injured.Pandeni’s remains were flown in a military plane of the Namibia Defence Force (NDF) to Windhoek on Friday and arrived at Eros airport at 14h00.A large group of family members, Cabinet Ministers and Government officials silently witnessed the arrival of the coffin, draped with the Namibian flag, while an NDF guard of honour saluted in the rain.Friends tried to comfort the widow, Julia Pandeni, who sobbed deeply, flanked by her two children.’INSPIRATION’ In his letter of condolences, President Pohamba said Pandeni had left an indelible mark on the lives of most Namibians.”He fearlessly pursued and championed our Government policy on decentralisation and maintained an excellent relationship with our traditional leaders.”The Council of Traditional Chiefs and all matters related to traditional authorities fall within the responsibilities of Local and Regional Government.”Minister Pandeni was an inspiration to all of us who worked under him.He motivated everyone and his excellent skills to consult and negotiate with traditional leaders will be sadly missed,” said Permanent Secretary Negonga.Ben Ulenga, leader of a section of the splintered Congress of Democrats (CoD), also reacted with shock.”It is a double tragedy as we lost Kala Gertze (of CoD) and observed a minute of silence Thursday afternoon in Parliament and this morning (Friday) Parliament suffers the sudden death of another Member,” Ulenga told The Namibian on Friday afternoon.Ulenga and Pandeni both served long prison terms on Robben Island during the liberation struggle.”We were there together for several years.His death is also a big loss for Swapo, since he was one of the cooler heads in that party,” Ulenga added.It is expected that the late Minister Pandeni will have a State funeral, preceded by a memorial service, at the end of this week.”It is with shock and disbelief that I have learnt of the untimely death of your dear husband today,” President Hifikepunye Pohamba said in a letter of condolences sent to Mrs Julia Pandeni on Friday afternoon.”He was a patriot, a defender of peace, national reconciliation and one of the pillars of the People’s Liberation Army of Namibia (Plan) as well as the Swapo Party,” the President added.”It is such a great shock for all of us,” Erastus Negonga, Permanent Secretary in Pandeni’s Ministry, told The Namibian on Friday afternoon.”It is as if being paralysed, I cannot work properly today.Yesterday I still spoke to him,” an official, who worked closely with the Minister’s office, confided in The Namibian.Pandeni was on an official trip to the Caprivi Region.His death came barely two days after the passing of another prominent politician left Namibians stunned.Opposition Parliamentarian Kala Gertze died of an asthma attack at his Windhoek home on Wednesday.Prime Minister Nahas Angula made the official announcement of Pandeni’s death by mid-morning on Friday. “On behalf of President Hifikepunye Pohamba (who was on his way to Oshakati) I regret to announce that Minister John Alphons Pandeni died in a road accident this morning at about 07h30 between Kombat and Grootfontein,” the brief statement said.According to the Police, the new off-road vehicle Minister Pandeni was travelling in overturned several times after the driver lost control on a bend in the road.The Minister, his driver and his bodyguard were flung out of the vehicle and the Minister landed in a canal, where the Police found his body.Police also had to pull the vehicle out of the water.The driver and the body­guard were seriously injured.Pandeni’s remains were flown in a military plane of the Namibia Defence Force (NDF) to Windhoek on Friday and arrived at Eros airport at 14h00.A large group of family members, Cabinet Ministers and Government officials silently witnessed the arrival of the coffin, draped with the Namibian flag, while an NDF guard of honour saluted in the rain.Friends tried to comfort the widow, Julia Pandeni, who sobbed deeply, flanked by her two children.’INSPIRATION’ In his letter of condolences, President Pohamba said Pandeni had left an indelible mark on the lives of most Namibians.”He fearlessly pursued and championed our Government policy on decentralisation and maintained an excellent relationship with our traditional leaders.”The Council of Traditional Chiefs and all matters related to traditional authorities fall within the responsibilities of Local and Regional Government.”Minister Pandeni was an inspiration to all of us who worked under him.He motivated everyone and his excellent skills to consult and negotiate with traditional leaders will be sadly missed,” said Permanent Secretary Negonga.Ben Ulenga, leader of a section of the splintered Congress of Democrats (CoD), also reacted with shock.”It is a double tragedy as we lost Kala Gertze (of CoD) and observed a minute of silence Thursday afternoon in Parliament and this morning (Friday) Parliament suffers the sudden death of another Member,” Ulenga told The Namibian on Friday afternoon.Ulenga and Pandeni both served long prison terms on Robben Island during the liberation struggle.”We were there together for several years.His death is also a big loss for Swapo, since he was one of the cooler heads in that party,” Ulenga added.It is expected that the late Minister Pandeni will have a State funeral, preceded by a memorial service, at the end of this week.