Former NDF chief Hawala never worked as an individual, Nandi-Ndaitwah says

President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah says former Namibian Defence Force chief Solomon ‘Jesus’ Hawala, who has long been accused about the killing of Namibians in dungeons in southern Angola during the liberation struggle, never acted as an individual or as part of a separate group.

Hawala, who died on 11 August at the age of 89, is accused of overseeing Swapo’s detainee camps in Lubango in Angola, where Namibians who were suspected of being spies were held captive during the war for independence.

Speaking at his memorial service at Ohakweenyanga village near Ongwediva on Friday, Nandi-Ndaitwah said Hawala always embraced the principle of collective responsibility.

“He performed tasks assigned to him by the movement [Swapo] in order to ensure that the revolution succeeded,” she said.

The president added that Swapo’s leadership never allowed a culture of isolation or selective decision-making to take root.

“For Swapo to achieve its objectives, the leadership ensured that the concept of working in isolation never existed,” she said.

Nandi-Ndaitwah stressed that the liberation movement faced a formidable enemy.

“We must bear in mind that at the time we were fighting the apartheid political system. It was backed by one of the most vicious and notorious military machines, designed to destroy Swapo and its military wing, Plan,” she said.

Because of this, she said, Swapo had to remain vigilant to ensure both its leadership and Plan fighters survived until independence was won.

In an age of information overload, Sunrise is The Namibian’s morning briefing, delivered at 6h00 from Monday to Friday. It offers a curated rundown of the most important stories from the past 24 hours – occasionally with a light, witty touch. It’s an essential way to stay informed. Subscribe and join our newsletter community.