Pandeni given a hero’s farewell

THE late Minister of Local and Regional Government, John Alfons Pandeni, whose body was taken to the North for memorial services at his home village of Omundjalala and at the Anamulenge Roman Catholic Church in the Omusati Region on Sunday, received a hero’s farewell from thousands of mourners.

Pandeni’s coffin, accompanied by his widow, Julia Pandeni, their four children, relatives and friends, was flown to Ondangwa by military plane from Windhoek on Sunday afternoon. Thousands of mourners packed the Ondangwa Airport, from where the Minister’s body was transported by Avbob funeral undertakers to Outapi, 110 kilometres away, escorted by the Police and members of the NDF’s 263 Battalion at Oshakati.Thousands of people lined the main road from Ondangwa to pay their last respects.After the coffin was placed in the Avbob mortuary at Outapi, the family and other mourners went to Pandeni’s homestead at Omundjalala.On Monday morning the coffin was taken to the Anamulenge Roman Catholic Church for a memorial service in the form of a Holy Mass led by Father Jose Thomas.The service was attended by Cabinet Ministers, regional and local councillors, traditional leaders and community members.The Secretary General of Swapo, Pendukeni Iivula-Ithana, told the mourners that Pandeni dedicated his life to the struggle and well-being of the people of Namibia.”The premature and unbearable death of Comrade Pandeni has robbed Namibia and the Swapo Party of a committed, great and unwavering son, who worked tirelessly to the end of his earthly road,” she said.Pandeni’s body was transported back to Windhoek on Tuesday.The Namibian has learnt that a memorial service will be held at the Roman Catholic Cathedral in Windhoek tomorrow at noon, followed by a State memorial service in the Parliament Gardens tomorrow before the State funeral in the Heroes’ Acre on Saturday.Thousands of mourners packed the Ondangwa Airport, from where the Minister’s body was transported by Avbob funeral undertakers to Outapi, 110 kilometres away, escorted by the Police and members of the NDF’s 263 Battalion at Oshakati.Thousands of people lined the main road from Ondangwa to pay their last respects.After the coffin was placed in the Avbob mortuary at Outapi, the family and other mourners went to Pandeni’s homestead at Omundjalala.On Monday morning the coffin was taken to the Anamulenge Roman Catholic Church for a memorial service in the form of a Holy Mass led by Father Jose Thomas.The service was attended by Cabinet Ministers, regional and local councillors, traditional leaders and community members.The Secretary General of Swapo, Pendukeni Iivula-Ithana, told the mourners that Pandeni dedicated his life to the struggle and well-being of the people of Namibia.”The premature and unbearable death of Comrade Pandeni has robbed Namibia and the Swapo Party of a committed, great and unwavering son, who worked tirelessly to the end of his earthly road,” she said.Pandeni’s body was transported back to Windhoek on Tuesday.The Namibian has learnt that a memorial service will be held at the Roman Catholic Cathedral in Windhoek tomorrow at noon, followed by a State memorial service in the Parliament Gardens tomorrow before the State funeral in the Heroes’ Acre on Saturday.