… deserves Heroes Acre
By Kaundjire Humbu
The man who coined Namibia deserves a place at Heroeas Acre for role petitioning Namibia’s case to the United Nations.
The government’s decision to exhume and rebury liberation heroes at Heroes’ Acre has been welcomed as an important step towards honouring those whose sacrifices helped secure Namibia’s hard-earned independence.
This according to Paramount Chief Hoze Riruako, of the OvaHerero Traditional Authority (OTA), who stressed that the heroes being honoured deserve the recognition because they played pivotal roles in the liberation struggle. Riruako said by reburying these stalwarts of the liberation struggle and the war of resistance, finally bestows upon them the honour, dignity and respect that they deserve.
The government is scheduled to rebury the remains of Eliaser Tuhadeleni, Hafeni Immanuel Shifidi, Nduuvu Filemon Nangolo, Simon Petrus Niilenge, Festus Nehale and Nathanael Maxuilili at Heroes’ Acre on 24 August. Tobias Hainyeko and Brendan Simbwaye will receive ceremonial recognition because their remains have not been recovered.
Riruako said the initiative should be applauded because the sacrifices made by these heroes contributed directly to the attainment of independence.
He is of the opinion that their lives, sweat and blood laid a solid foundation on which present day is built on.
Enters Kerina However, the programme has also brought back into focus an unfinished conversation surrounding the late Professor Mburumba Kerina which is making rounds among Namibians. Riruako claims that discussions with relevant government institutions and stakeholders on this matter are expected to yield positive results.
Kerina was one of Namibia’s early nationalist leaders and among those who took the Namibian question to the international community.
“Kerina was able to do through the tutelage and pedagogical guidance of Father of Namibia’s Nationalism Chief Hosea Katjikururume Kutako,” explained Riruako.
He was an early petitioner at the United Nations and played an instrumental role in the development of Namibia’s nationalist politic which aided in shaping the early formations of the political system in Namibia.
He is also credited with coining the name “Namibia” in 1959.
“This is why I am saying that a person of that stature, a towering figure in Namibia’s drive for independence will regain his dignity, honour and respect by being reburied at the sacred shrine in Okahandja as per his request,” he added.
Court blocked burial Kerina’s burial became a subject of controversy following his death in June 2021.
During his lifetime, Kerina had expressed a wish to be buried at the Sacred Shrine in Okahandja, at the feet of Kutako, whom he regarded as an important influence and benefactor.
OTA chairperson Chief Vipuira Kapuuo, of the Ovaherero Chief Council and Senate, granted the Kerina family permission to bury him at the shrine.
The decision was challenged by then OTA secretary-general at the time, Mutjinde Katjiua who approached the High Court on an urgent basis to stop the burial at OKahandja.
The court granted an interdict preventing the planned burial from proceeding due to some technicalities.
Katjiua said the authority objected to Kerina being buried at the shrine because the site was reserved for paramount chiefs.
However, Riruako disputes the notion as according to him other prominent individuals who are not were not paramount chiefs but whose contributions were deemed exceptional are buried. These include the late bishop Asaria Kamburona, chief Kandjanatozombua Tjiho of the Gam constituency and chief Kukajorua Ndisiro of the Ovitoto.
In addition, the daughters of the late Nama leader Jan Jonker Afrikaner next to their father.
Following the court intervention, Kerina was ultimately buried on top of his mother in Khomasdal cemetery.
Riruako believes the circumstances surrounding Kerina’s burial should not permanently close the conversation about where one of Namibia’s early nationalists ought to have his final resting place.
Recognition, not rivalry Riruako stressed that his remarks should not be interpreted as criticism of government or as an attempt to undermine the heroes already selected for reburial.
Instead, he said the government’s initiative should be welcomed and could provide an opportunity for Namibia to broaden its national remembrance and ensure that important figures in the liberation struggle are not forgotten.
He acknowledged that it would neither be practical nor financially possible to exhume every person who contributed to the liberation struggle.
“A nation without a history is not a nation.”
