Nankudhu conferred national hero status

PRESIDENT Hifikepunye Pohamba has declared the late John Ya Otto Nankudhu a national hero and he will be honoured with an official State funeral.

The Minister of Presidential Affairs, Albert Kawana, made the announcement in a press release yesterday.Pohamba has also instructed that all flags in Namibia be flown at half-mast from Thursday until the funeral. This will be a period of mourning.Further announcements regarding the funeral, such as the date, time and place will be made at a later date following consultations with the family of the deceased.Kawana’s office has indicated that it is not clear whether Nankudhu will be buried at the Heroes’ Acre outside Windhoek, as the final resting place will be decided by the family of the deceased if it is not indicated in Nankudhu’s will.Pupils and teachers of the Martti Ahtisaari Primary School paid tribute to the late Nankudhu yesterday by marching from the school to the Nankudhu residence. They sang songs outside the house in tribute to the liberation struggle veteran.