Gurirab honoured

PRIME Minister Theo-Ben Gurirab was on Thursday conferred with the Order of the Sun First Class by President Sam Nujoma for his “heroic deeds and bravery” in the service of Namibia and its people.

He was awarded the medal during the commemoration of Heroes Day, August 26 1966, at Tanaza, in the Omugulugombashe area, where people gathered to recall and celebrate the bravery of those who fought a heroic battle against the troops of the racist minority apartheid of South Africa. Gurirab’s political career began in 1961 before he left the country for Tanzania.Gurirab remained in political exile for 27 years.In 1963, he was awarded a United Nations fellowship and proceeded to the United States to pursue tertiary studies.A seasoned diplomat, Gurirab served for 14 years as Swapo’s Chief representative to the United Nations and later on, as its Permanent Observer.From 1986 to 1990 Gurirab was Swapo’s Secretary for Foreign Relations.Throughout those years, he played a major role in international conferences and negotiations leading to Namibia’s independence.On the diplomatic front, as Foreign Affairs Minister, Gurirab led about three years of negotiations with the apartheid South African regime on Walvis Bay and the Off-shore Islands, which were re-integrated into Namibia in 1994, in accordance with the United Nations Security Council Resolution 435 of 1978.Among others, in 1988 Gurirab received an award from the World Association of the former United Nations Interns and Fellows.In the 1990s he was awarded an Honorary Doctor of Law Degree from the University of Namibia (Unam) in recognition of his leadership in the field of foreign policy and diplomacy.Gurirab was the President of the 54th Session of the UN General Assembly 1999-200 and chaired the drafting of the UN millennium Declaration 2000 in which the Millennium Development Goals and Targets were enshrined.- NampaGurirab’s political career began in 1961 before he left the country for Tanzania.Gurirab remained in political exile for 27 years.In 1963, he was awarded a United Nations fellowship and proceeded to the United States to pursue tertiary studies.A seasoned diplomat, Gurirab served for 14 years as Swapo’s Chief representative to the United Nations and later on, as its Permanent Observer.From 1986 to 1990 Gurirab was Swapo’s Secretary for Foreign Relations.Throughout those years, he played a major role in international conferences and negotiations leading to Namibia’s independence.On the diplomatic front, as Foreign Affairs Minister, Gurirab led about three years of negotiations with the apartheid South African regime on Walvis Bay and the Off-shore Islands, which were re-integrated into Namibia in 1994, in accordance with the United Nations Security Council Resolution 435 of 1978.Among others, in 1988 Gurirab received an award from the World Association of the former United Nations Interns and Fellows.In the 1990s he was awarded an Honorary Doctor of Law Degree from the University of Namibia (Unam) in recognition of his leadership in the field of foreign policy and diplomacy.Gurirab was the President of the 54th Session of the UN General Assembly 1999-200 and chaired the drafting of the UN millennium Declaration 2000 in which the Millennium Development Goals and Targets were enshrined.- Nampa