DTA remembers slain leader Kapuuo

ABOUT 400 Herero-speaking people and DTA supporters held a solemn commemoration of the first DTA president and traditional leader Clemens Kapuuo, who was assassinated by unknown killers 29 years ago in Katutura.

It has been alleged ever since that an assassination team of the South African apartheid regime executed the brutal killing on March 27 1978. Among the invited VIP guests was Henk Mudge, President of the Republican Party, which split from the DTA a few years ago.Kurundiro Kerina, a niece of Kapuuo, reminded all present that her uncle had united people from different language groups for a common goal – the liberation of Namibia.”Today we do not have such leaders among us any more, but we need them,” she said.McHenry Venaani, DTA Member of Parliament, who is busy writing a biography on Kapuuo to be published next year, highlighted the fact that Kapuuo petitioned the UN and addressed the UN general assembly personally in 1972 and 1975.”He pleaded for a peaceful solution for Namibia’s independence and vehemently objected to UN Resolution 3111, which made Swapo the sole and authentic representative of the Namibian people,” Venaani said.”Chief Kapuuo mobilised all ethnic groups into one (political) umbrella organisation, the Democratic Turnhalle Alliance (DTA) and was elected its first president in November 1977,” he added.Kapuuo put pressure on South Africa to hand over Namibia to its people.”This pressure culminated in his assassination.Pretoria thought he would dance to the tune of the coloniser but he proved them wrong and his uncompromising position for a free Namibia cost him his life,” Venaani stated.It was now time to ask the South African government to release the docket on the assassination so that the findings could be made public and his assassins and their motives be made known, he added, receiving strong applause.DTA President Katuutire Kaura said Kapuuo had worked tirelessly for the unity of all Namibians and the total emancipation of its people through peaceful means.Among the invited VIP guests was Henk Mudge, President of the Republican Party, which split from the DTA a few years ago.Kurundiro Kerina, a niece of Kapuuo, reminded all present that her uncle had united people from different language groups for a common goal – the liberation of Namibia.”Today we do not have such leaders among us any more, but we need them,” she said.McHenry Venaani, DTA Member of Parliament, who is busy writing a biography on Kapuuo to be published next year, highlighted the fact that Kapuuo petitioned the UN and addressed the UN general assembly personally in 1972 and 1975.”He pleaded for a peaceful solution for Namibia’s independence and vehemently objected to UN Resolution 3111, which made Swapo the sole and authentic representative of the Namibian people,” Venaani said.”Chief Kapuuo mobilised all ethnic groups into one (political) umbrella organisation, the Democratic Turnhalle Alliance (DTA) and was elected its first president in November 1977,” he added.Kapuuo put pressure on South Africa to hand over Namibia to its people.”This pressure culminated in his assassination.Pretoria thought he would dance to the tune of the coloniser but he proved them wrong and his uncompromising position for a free Namibia cost him his life,” Venaani stated.It was now time to ask the South African government to release the docket on the assassination so that the findings could be made public and his assassins and their motives be made known, he added, receiving strong applause.DTA President Katuutire Kaura said Kapuuo had worked tirelessly for the unity of all Namibians and the total emancipation of its people through peaceful means.