ǂGabes, Karasburg East Constituency. 20 March 2026.
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It is a great honour to be back this morning in ǂGabes, on the eve of the 36th anniversary of Namibia’s independence. ǂGabes is of historical importance and its graveyard a national shrine, because here too lie the remains of one of the veterans and stalwarts of our freedom and independence.
As we celebrate the 36th independence anniversary, we also remember men and women who contributed immensely to the fruits of independence we are enjoying today. As we gather this morning in unison to reflect on the life and times of Reverend Willem Konjore and many others, we do so with the conviction that their time and energy spent in this world were done with clear purpose and conviction.
Reverend Konjore was born on 30 July 1945 in Kais, a small settlement here in the //Kharas Region. He was trained as a teacher at St Joseph’s Teacher Training Centre in Döbra and from 1976 to 1979 went to study theology in the diocese of Keetmanshoop and Mariental. From 1968 to 1990, he worked as a teacher at several schools in Tses and later as a principal and manager at ǂKoichas.
Reverend Willem Konjore played an instrumental role in the Nama teachers’ strike of 1976, which culminated in him, together with the late Reverend Hendrik Witbooi, Chief Stephanus Goliath, and many others, joining the liberation struggle under the banner of Swapo. In 1989, Reverend Konjore was elected as a member of the constituent assembly, the body responsible for drafting the Namibian constitution. This made him one of the founding fathers of our republic.
Following the transition of the constituent assembly into the first national assembly, he served as the first chief whip of Swapo and later deputy speaker of the national assembly, minister of environment and tourism, and minister of youth, national service, sport and culture until his retirement in 2010. He also served as a member of the Swapo party central committee. In recognition of his distinguished service to the Namibian people and for his outstanding contribution to the independence struggle, reverend Konjore was conferred the Most Brilliant Order of the Sun, second class by former president Hifikepunye Pohamba on Heroes Day in 2014.
Sadly, reverend Konjore departed from this world on 11 June 2021. He was accorded a state funeral and laid to rest here in ǂGabes on Saturday, 26 June 2021.
Reverend Willem Konjore was a dedicated freedom fighter, a respected politician of note and above all a dynamic religious leader. His life was dedicated to the principles of respect, hard work, honesty, truthfulness and social justice. The freedom and independence we enjoy today was achieved through sacrifices made by people like reverend Willem Konjore. Therefore, on the eve of our 36th independence anniversary, we must as a nation continue to value and guard the peace that people like reverend Konjore fought for the greater part of their lives. Let us honour their memories by remaining true to the notion of “one Namibia, one nation”.
As we reflect on this enduring legacy of reverend Konjore, let us also renew our collective commitment to building a Namibia that is inclusive, resilient and forward-looking. The responsibility to advance the ideals of freedom, equality and shared prosperity now rests with all of us as government, traditional leadership, the church and every citizen. We must empower our youth, strengthen our institutions, and foster unity across all communities, so that the sacrifices of our forebears are not in vain. Let us move forward with determination, guided by the values of integrity, accountability and service to the nation, as we work together to secure a brighter future for generations to come. That is what reverend Konjore would have expected from all of us.
As we continue to chart the way forward for our people, may the legacy of reverend Willem Konjore continue to inspire us as a nation, and may we continue to draw strength and inspiration from his life.
I thank you.
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