Lubango survivor urges president to confront torture legacy after ‘Jesus’ Hawala’s death

Former Lubango dungeons detainee Edward Ndopu is urging president Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah to address alleged exile-era abuses following the death of Solomon ‘Jesus’ Hawala.

Ndopu, who is still living in exile in Ontario, Canada, says the president should use the opportunity to heal and unite the nation and its people instead of painting Hawala as a hero and freedom fighter.

He says this in a social media post published on Tuesday.

“You and I, Comrade Netumbo, grew up in the throes of the national liberation struggle in exile. Both of us fully know the liberation struggle landscape in exile and all the individuals who populated the revolutionary spaces trumpeting freedom, peace, unity, and prosperity for all.

“Unfortunately, Solomon ‘Jesus’ Dumeni Hawala was not (and, still in death, is not) among those to be counted as a freedom fighter! You and I, Comrade Netumbo, know this to be an unassailable truth. And, your own husband and now our Namibia’s first gentleman general Ndaitwah can, without fear or favour (if not for your societal status today) attest to ‘Jesus’ Hawala’s misdeeds in both Plan (People’s Liberation Army of Namibia) and Swapo,” Ndopu says.

He says the message of condolences extolling the ‘Butcher of Lubango’ as, “a dedicated freedom fighter whose commitment to the liberation struggle for independence apparently places him alongside icons and heroes who supposedly waged war and contributed to the independence of Namibia” is not true.

“Lies, all lies! You know the truth in your now much talked-about heart of hearts,” the ex-detainee says.

In her message issued on Tuesday, Nandi-Ndaitwah says Hawala was an iconic figure of the Namibian revolution, who spent his life in pursuit of freedom, peace, unity, and prosperity for all Namibian people and beyond.

“Comrade Hawala’s commitment to the liberation struggle for independence for his motherland, Namibia, places him alongside icons and heroes who waged war and contributed to the independence of Namibia. His legacy will forever be etched in the annals of our history, serving as a constant reminder of the sacrifices made for our freedom,” the president says.

Hawala died on Monday in northern Namibia at the age of 89. He was dubbed the ‘Butcher of Lubango’ because he allegedly ran Swapo detention camps for adversaries in the Angolan city during Namibia’s liberation struggle. His death has drawn mixed reaction from supporters and critics.

Meanwhile, calls not to grant Hawala a state funeral is gaining traction.

The Namibian reported on Wednesday that political analyst Hening Melber says it would be a humble but adequate gesture not to honour Hawala with a state funeral or any other official mourning.

Melber says responsible mourning should rather rehabilitate those who were his victims and other securocrats.

“It would be a long overdue and necessary consequence in admission of guilt. It would be a late symbolic effort not to forget but to remember the crimes committed. It would lay to rest as much as possible the injustices committed,” he says.

The victims credit Hawala for giving them the longest nights of torture, rapes, executions, forced confessions to implicate others, and simply disappearing and dying of neglect in the alleged dungeons.

Human rights activist Phil ya Nangoloh has also called on Nandi-Ndaitwah not to grant former Namibia Defence Force (NDF) chief Hawala a state funeral.

Ya Nangoloh says NamRights has lodged a submission with the International Criminal Court to investigate Hawala and others over the disappearance of hundreds of Namibians in exile.

“And regardless of his passing, there are still other critical suspects, such as James Vilho Auala, who are liable to be prosecuted for Lubango and other exile crimes,” he says.

Presidential spokesperson Jonas Mbambo in a response on Wednesday says the Presidency understands the importance of this matter to the public.

“The relevant consultations are still underway and it would be premature to provide details at this time. We will communicate as soon as we have confirmed information,” he says.

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