President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah accorded a military memorial and funeral for war veteran Wilbard Ihuhwa over the weekend, where he was remembered for his selfless devotion to the cause of freedom.
Ihuhwa died aged 72 in Onandjokwe State Hospital at Oniipa in the Oshikoto region on 8 September after a sudden illness.
He was among the Namibian revolutionary icons imprisoned on Robben Island in South Africa. He was incarcerated from March 1979 to 1984, serving a sentence alongside the late Andimba Toivo ya Toivo and Ruben Itengula.
Ihuhwa was scheduled to fly to South Africa to attend the reunion of former political prisoners of Robben Island, where he features on the Wall of Remembrance together with the names of all former political prisoners of the island, on 26 and 27 September.
Instead the nation was bidding Ihuhwa, one of the last nine survivors from that time, a sombre farewell.
Speaking during the military memorial service at Okalambo village in the Oniipa constituency on Friday, governor Sacky Kathindi delivering Nandi-Ndaitwah’s tribute said the service was a celebration of Ihuhwa’s remarkable life and enduring legacy. Ihuhwa was described as a true son of the Namibian soil, patriot and hero of the liberation struggle.
“Comrade Wilbard’s story is one of many accounts of contributions by our heroes who remained inside the country which led to Namibia’s independence, he devoted himself selflessly to the cause of freedom,” the president said.
She said Ihuhwa placed the freedom of Namibia above his own safety, risking his life countless times for the liberation of his motherland.
Nandi-Ndaitwah said despite all difficulties and bitter struggles, Ihuhwa remained resolute, standing shoulder-to-shoulder with fellow freedom fighters.
“His story is one of sacrifice, resilience and deep patriotism. He endured imprisonment, hardships and separation from family due to his active spirit and unwavering commitment to the independence of Namibia. His life is just not a personal journey, but part of the liberation struggle,” said Nandi-Ndaitwah.
“His sacrifices remind us that the freedom we enjoy today did not come on a silver platter, but through the bravery of the women and men who sacrificed their lives under the liberation struggle.”
The president extended condolences to the Ihuhwa family, comrades and friends on behalf of the nation and the government, expressing wishes of strength and comfort during their time of bereavement.
Reading Ihuhwa’s eulogy, Matheus Nekongo reflected that Ihuhwa’s life became deeply intertwined with the history of Namibia’s liberation struggle, and that he stood unwavering among the many brave women and men who dedicated their lives to freedom for all.
“He safeguarded weapons of fallen combatants, carefully hiding them in the soil of his parents’ homestead. Ihuhwa risked his own life transporting injured People’s Liberation Army of Namibia (Plan) fighters on his bicycle, ensuring they reached sympathetic nurses for treatment,” he shared.
Former Robben Island prisoners, who sent a delegate to honour Ihuhwa’s legacy, described him as a trusted pillar of support for Plan soldiers, saying his life was marked by sacrifice and resilience.
Ihuhwa was buried at Onankali North cemetery in the Ohangwena region on Saturday. He is survived by his wife, seven children, 13 grandchildren and seven siblings. – Nampa
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