Joseph Jimmy: freedom fighter and bridge builder

ONE of the first staff members of independent Namibia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Joseph Obgeb Jimmy (52), died in the capital on February 2.

Jimmy was the country’s first High Commissioner to Zimbabwe, where he served from 1993 to 1996. Reflecting on the life of Jimmy – Prime Minister Theo-Ben Gurirab, and former Minister of Foreign Affairs, said that the Windhoek-born Jimmy “was a cosmopolitan child of the ‘Old Location culture’ we knew before Independence”.”He undoubtedly belonged to a precious generation of the country’s young people who listened to and heard the fighting talk of Swapo leaders ‘ those at home and those in exile at the time – they acted in tune with world events,” he said.Jimmy was one of those who “learnt about the tragic story of December 10 1959 at the Old Location in Windhoek and drew correct lessons and dynamic inspiration from that painful Namibian experience”, he added.Jimmy went into exile at a young age to join the liberation struggle.Many remember Jimmy’s sense of humour “and a clever political mind which he often used to his advantage. He was fun-loving and resourceful. He had many friends”.Gurirab described him as “a bridge builder, born in the capital and [who] also lived in the South”.Jimmy attended St Peters Primary School at Luderitz and completed his primary education at the Damara-Nama High School in Windhoek.He did his secondary education at the Augustineum High School in Windhoek.He then attended the University of Dar Es Salaam (Adult Education Division) from 1976 to 1977, studying International Law.Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs, Dr Kaire Mbuende, said he had worked with Jimmy in various countries.He said they received military training at Oshatotwa in Zambia’s Western Province, before moving to Lusaka were they lived in the same house and both worked for the Swapo department of information and publicity.Mbuende described Jimmy as a generous person.He said whenever he had money, he became ‘King’ and entertained his comrades until the last cent was up.In his spare time, he enjoyed reading novels and other books.”I have known him for quite a number of years and remember the jokes he used to crack and his generosity whenever he had money and how he shared with others.We have lost a diplomat not only as a Ministry but as a country,” Mbuende said.Jimmy’s last diplomatic posting was as High Commissioner to Zimbabwe from 1993 to 1996, following which he occupied a senior position in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs until his death.Jimmy will be buried in Windhoek on February 14.He is survived by seven children; Desmond, Disney, Ronaleen, Nasky, Dantago, Mutani and Obgeb.CHRONOLOGY* From 1974 to 1975: worked for the Voice of Namibia, Swapo’s radio programme in Lusaka;* from 1975 to 1978: supervisor for the Voice of Namibia in Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania.* 1978 to 1979: Assistant Secretary for Information and Political Orientation – Swapo Youth League, in Luanda, Angola.* 1979 to 1982: Deputy Secretary General for the Pan African Youth Movement in Algiers, Algeria.* 1982 to 1986: Swapo’s Chief Representative to the Nordic Countries, based in Stockholm, Sweden.* 1986 to 1988: Co-ordinator, Protocol and Liaison – Swapo Department of Foreign Affairs in Luanda, Angola.* 1989 to 1990: Personal Assistant to the Director of the Windhoek District Elections Office.* From Independence Day: March 21 to October 1990, Director of Multilateral Affairs, Directorate: Ministry of Foreign Affairs.* 1991 to 1993: Under Secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.* October 1990 to August 1991: Charge d’Affaires, Embassy of Namibia in Ethiopia.* October 1991 to June 1992, Charge d’Affaires at the Embassy of Namibia in Germany.- NampaReflecting on the life of Jimmy – Prime Minister Theo-Ben Gurirab, and former Minister of Foreign Affairs, said that the Windhoek-born Jimmy “was a cosmopolitan child of the ‘Old Location culture’ we knew before Independence”. “He undoubtedly belonged to a precious generation of the country’s young people who listened to and heard the fighting talk of Swapo leaders ‘ those at home and those in exile at the time – they acted in tune with world events,” he said. Jimmy was one of those who “learnt about the tragic story of December 10 1959 at the Old Location in Windhoek and drew correct lessons and dynamic inspiration from that painful Namibian experience”, he added. Jimmy went into exile at a young age to join the liberation struggle. Many remember Jimmy’s sense of humour “and a clever political mind which he often used to his advantage. He was fun-loving and resourceful. He had many friends”. Gurirab described him as “a bridge builder, born in the capital and [who] also lived in the South”. Jimmy attended St Peters Primary School at Luderitz and completed his primary education at the Damara-Nama High School in Windhoek. He did his secondary education at the Augustineum High School in Windhoek. He then attended the University of Dar Es Salaam (Adult Education Division) from 1976 to 1977, studying International Law. Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs, Dr Kaire Mbuende, said he had worked with Jimmy in various countries. He said they received military training at Oshatotwa in Zambia’s Western Province, before moving to Lusaka were they lived in the same house and both worked for the Swapo department of information and publicity. Mbuende described Jimmy as a generous person. He said whenever he had money, he became ‘King’ and entertained his comrades until the last cent was up. In his spare time, he enjoyed reading novels and other books. “I have known him for quite a number of years and remember the jokes he used to crack and his generosity whenever he had money and how he shared with others. We have lost a diplomat not only as a Ministry but as a country,” Mbuende said. Jimmy’s last diplomatic posting was as High Commissioner to Zimbabwe from 1993 to 1996, following which he occupied a senior position in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs until his death. Jimmy will be buried in Windhoek on February 14. He is survived by seven children; Desmond, Disney, Ronaleen, Nasky, Dantago, Mutani and Obgeb. CHRONOLOGY * From 1974 to 1975: worked for the Voice of Namibia, Swapo’s radio programme in Lusaka; * from 1975 to 1978: supervisor for the Voice of Namibia in Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania. * 1978 to 1979: Assistant Secretary for Information and Political Orientation – Swapo Youth League, in Luanda, Angola. * 1979 to 1982: Deputy Secretary General for the Pan African Youth Movement in Algiers, Algeria. * 1982 to 1986: Swapo’s Chief Representative to the Nordic Countries, based in Stockholm, Sweden. * 1986 to 1988: Co-ordinator, Protocol and Liaison – Swapo Department of Foreign Affairs in Luanda, Angola. * 1989 to 1990: Personal Assistant to the Director of the Windhoek District Elections Office. * From Independence Day: March 21 to October 1990, Director of Multilateral Affairs, Directorate: Ministry of Foreign Affairs. * 1991 to 1993: Under Secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. * October 1990 to August 1991: Charge d’Affaires, Embassy of Namibia in Ethiopia. * October 1991 to June 1992, Charge d’Affaires at the Embassy of Namibia in Germany. – Nampa