President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah has granted retired defence force lieutenant general Salomon ‘Jesus’ Hawala a state funeral.
Hawala was born on 19 August 1935 and died on 11 August.
“The funeral will take place at Ongwediva in the Oshana region on 6 September,” the president’s office announced on Thursday.
The announcement comes just over a month after the Cabinet imposed a moratorium on the granting of official funerals effective from 16 June this year until 31 March 2026, following the deaths of three liberation stalwarts.
The president said her declaration is in accordance with the Namibian Constitution and the Conferment of National Honours Act.
Nandi-Ndaitwah further granted Hawala the honour of national hero status (posthumously).
The president recognised Hawala for his “distinguished military service, steadfast leadership, and unwavering dedication to the cause of Namibia’s liberation and nation-building”.
She added: “His legacy remains a symbol of courage, patriotism, and commitment to the ideals of freedom and independence.”
The granting of hero status, however, goes against the wishes of Lubango dungeon survivors who have been calling on the president not to make such a decision, arguing it would be an insult to them.
President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah has granted retired defence force lieutenant general Salomon ‘Jesus’ Hawala a state funeral.
Hawala was born on 19 August 1935 and died on 11 August.
“The funer
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