2014

Pohamba mourns ‘best friend’….’was a unifier’ – political leaders

WINDHOEK – President Hifikepunye Pohamba said he has lost a best friend in Ovaherero Paramount Chief Kuaima Riruako, who passed away in the Roman Catholic hospital on Monday following a short illness, aged 79.

“I feel sad because yesterday (Monday) this time, I went to see my friend Chief Kuaima Riruako in hospital. What shocked me is that, just after one hour, he passed on. I was thinking, has he been waiting for me to go and say good bye?” asked a downcast Pohamba yesterday afternoon, adding that he was glad that he had gone to see him even if it was only briefly. Pohamba, accompanied by First Lady Penehupifo Pohamba, Prime Minister Dr Hage Geingob, Speaker of the National Assembly Dr Theo-Ben Gurirab and his wife Joan Guriras, former president of the DTA Dirk Mudge, his son Republican Party president Henk Mudge, former diplomat Dr Zed Ngavirue, Professor Peter Katjavivi visited the Red Flag Commando Hall in Katutura yesterday to pay their last respects. Pohamba said he was unable to visit Chief Riruako earlier, because of other pressing commitments outside of town, but asked that his personal doctor, Dr Viscaya Amutenya, visit the chief to report on his condition.

Pohamba said he met Riruako for the first time in Lusaka, Zambia in 1966, two years after Zambia attained its independence, while the chief was incarcerated for not being in possession of travel documents. Upon hearing about the chief’s detention, Pohamba appealed for his release and the two met in Lusaka where they developed an everlasting friendship. “Whenever we met, we shared lots of jokes as friends. Recently, when I was in the process of consulting fellow leaders, Riruako led the delegation of his party and there was a lot of joking, hugging and talking all the way at State House,” the president reminisced.

Pohamba praised Chief Riruako for playing a significant role in the evolution of Namibian democracy as a Member of Parliament, especially when he moved a motion regarding the German genocide and reparation issue, which was immediately adopted and a resolution passed. He said that from then on the government has engaged the German government on the basis of Chief Riruako’s motion. “We have not reached government to government understanding and we were thinking that understanding would be reached while he was still alive,” he said. According to the president all present and future Namibian leaders and governments would continue to engage the German government on the legitimate demands of the Namibian people. Yesterday, political party leaders across the political spectrum remembered Chief Riruako, recollecting his wisdom, jovial personality and the ability to unite people, with many speaking of his fierce patriotism. “He never allowed anyone to diminish what he wanted to do and he was a leader of all of us in his own way. Many people thought he only fought for the Ovaherero people, but he fought for all of us and we were all his children in one or another way,” said Swapo Party secretary general, Nangolo Mbumba. “If the Chief had a chance to be the overall leader of the country he would have accommodated us all, therefore his death must bring us all closer,” he said.

Nudo deputy secretary general Vetaruhe Kandorozu, who served under Chief Riruako, says the party president’s death is a great loss for Nudo, because he could draw huge crowds during party gatherings like none other, and remembered him as an icon for all Nudo members. “Just his mere presence at our political gatherings was enough to attract huge crowds. As a party we now need to sit down and strategise on the way forward, because the elections are around the corner. We did not expect to lose him, especially at a time when he was getting ready to contest the presidential elections,” Kandorozu said.

Rally for Democracy and Progress (RDP) vice president Steve Bezuidenhoudt said the late Riruako always mingled with all parliamentarians, regardless of their political affiliation. “He really cared for the nation and he was someone we all could look up to. His death is a great loss for the entire nation, especially when considering the fact that he was a member of the Constituent Assembly. Young politicians, like myself, could always approach him for advice,” reminisced Bezuidenhoudt. He fondly recalled the chief’s favourite opener when he had something to say in parliament. “I am sorry to say this!” All People’s Party (APP) president, Ignatius Shixwameni, remembered how Chief Riruako would refer to him as ‘my son’. “Regardless of our age difference, I could always approach him and chat to him and he was always in a jovial mood,” he recalled. “This is a great loss, particularly for the Ovaherero people, because the chief did his best to forge unity.

This is one of the things all traditional leaders should do, whether at an ethnic or national level. He was also a great debater, who did not shy away from saying what he felt needed to be said. We should all join in mourning his passing on by paying respect to him, regardless of our political differences. A state burial will be fitting, because he has done so much for this country,” said Shixwameni.

Chief Riruako will be laid to rest on June 29 at Okahandja, the sacred burial site of Chief Hosea Kutako and Chief Clemens Kapuuo and where the Nama chiefs, Jonker Afrikaner and Christine Afrikaner, Chief David Ndisiro of Ovitoto and Chief Kandjaratozombua Tjiho of Ongama. Bethuel Katjimune, secretary of the Ovaherero Traditional Authority (OTA) and chairperson of the funeral organising committee, said about 10 000 to 15 000 people are expected to come from as far afield as Canada, the United States of America, the United Kingdom, Botswana and South Africa to bid the chief farewell. Asked about succession, Advocate Vekuii Riruako, who was the special advisor to Chief Riruako said that there is no vacuum left in the Ovaherero leadership, since they have a duly elected acting Chief Tumbee Tjombe. His wife Enesia, 12 daughters, four sons and three grandchildren survive the late Chief Riruako.

By Magreth Nunuhe & Mathias Haufiku

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