‘Jesus’ was acting on Swapo’s instructions – former MP

Former parliamentarian Jeremiah Nambinga says those opposing a State-sponsored funeral for the late former chief of the Namibian Defence Force (NDF), Salomon ‘Jesus’ Hawala, are applying selective morality.

Hawala died this week in the north at the age of 89.

He was granted a state funeral by president Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah on Thursday.

Before independence, Hawala was the deputy commander of the People’s Liberation Army of Namibia (Plan) and was allegedly in charge of detainee camps for Swapo dissidents in Lubango.

Nambinga says if people were killed in Angola, Hawala was not the only one responsible.

“People should stop applying selective morality. Hero’s funeral status has been accorded to many senior Swapo leaders buried at the Heroes’ Acre,” he says.

“If there were people who were killed in the dungeons, they were killed with the knowledge of senior Swapo leaders, those who were in the politburo and military council. Some of those people were Jesus’ commanders. If people don’t like hero’s status being accorded to some people, why didn’t they express reservations about those already buried at the Heroes’ Acre?” Nambinga asks.

He says some of the people buried at Heroes’ Acre were Hawala’s commanders, and he acted on their instructions.

“If Jesus killed people, or was among those who killed people in Angola, it was permitted by Swapo. Jesus was executing Swapo’s responsibilities,” Nambinga says.

Former police commissioner Elisa Haulyondjaba also says Hawala was acting on the orders of his senior commanders and Swapo.

Haulyondjaba, who said he had known Hawala for 57 years, described him as a friendly person.

He added that about five years ago, some people had attempted to assassinate Hawala.

“Jesus did not decide on his own to kill people; he was implementing Swapo’s decisions,” Haulyondjaba said.

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