The Namibian media fraternity is mourning the death of veteran cameraman and cancer awareness advocate Lamech Mwanyangapo who died at the age of 61 after a battle with cancer.
Mwanyangapo died on the morning of 29 August at a hospital in Windhoek.
He was a long serving employee of the Namibian Broadcasting Corporation (NBC), and was diagnosed with multiple myeloma in April 2023.
NBC board chairperson Lazarus Jacobs on Saturday said Mwanyangapo had served the corporation with dedication and professionalism for many years.
“Lamech was much more than an employee of NBC. He was a member of the NBC family in the truest sense of the word, for many years,” Jacobs said.
He said Mwanyangapo would be remembered for his warmth, kindness, humility and concern for others.
According to Jacobs, Mwanyangapo underwent extensive treatment, including a bone marrow and stem cell transplant in Cape Town.
However, he turned his personal battle with cancer into a campaign to help others facing the disease.
Mwanyangapo established the Lamech Mwanyangapo Cancer Association and became an advocate for cancer awareness, annual screenings and early detection.
He also campaigned for the establishment of an oncology centre in northern Namibia.
“At a time when he could understandably have focused entirely on his own health, Lamech chose to think about others who were facing, or might one day face, the same dreadful disease,” Jacobs said.
He said Mwanyangapo remained committed to his work until his final days. He said Mwanyangapo was still engaging with NBC matters from his hospital bed as recently as Friday.
“In a telephone call with the director general, Menesia Muinjo, he spoke about the coverage of Olufuko, where his clients were involved. He remained interested in upcoming agreements and business opportunities,” Jacobs said.
Editors’ Forum of Namibia (EFN) chairperson Toivo Ndjebela describes Mwanyangapo as a highly respected senior cameraman who made a significant contribution to the country’s broadcasting and journalism landscape.
“Through the lens of his camera, he played an important role in documenting Namibians, events and history, thus contributing to the country’s broadcasting and journalism landscape,” he says.
The EFN says Mwanyangapo emerged as a passionate voice in the fight against cancer following his diagnosis in 2023.
“Through the Lamech Mwanyangapo Cancer Foundation, he gave hope and a voice to many who were confronting the disease,” he says.
His death, the EFN says, is a loss to his family and loved ones, Namibia’s media fraternity and the wider community he served.
Both NBC and the EFN extend their condolences to the Mwanyangapo family, his friends, former colleagues at NBC and the cancer awareness community.
