WINDHOEK – A large number of mourners gathered in a somber mood at the Parliament Gardens on Friday to bid farewell to the late Reverend Batholomeaus Godwin Karuaera, who died at the age of 93 on September 22 in Windhoek.
The memorial service was attended mainly by elderly national leaders, members of the diplomatic community and members of the AME church. Karuaera was accorded a State and hero’s funeral at the Gammams Cemetery of Windhoek on Saturday. The late Karuaera is considered one of the founding fathers of the Namibian nation, and has been involved in the struggle for independence for most of his life. Addressing the mourners, President Hifikepunye Pohamba said it should not surprise anybody that Karuaera was accorded both a State and hero’s funeral.
He said Karuaera was a recognized veteran of the Namibian liberation struggle, and described him as a dedicated freedom fighter and fearless compatriot, who dedicated his life to the struggle for the freedom and independence of Namibia, and to the betterment of the quality of life of its people. Karuaera is well known for his strong position against the then South African colonial regime and played an active role in the uprising against the forced removal of people from the Old Location to Katutura. Although he was a preacher of the African Methodist Episcopal Church (AME), he balanced his duties as a preacher and as an advocate for peace, justice and independence of Namibia. “His selfless [dedication] to the general wellbeing of the Namibian people is evidenced by the eulogy that was just delivered here. He has left a memorable legacy not only for his family, but also for our people as a whole to follow,” Pohamba said.
The president said Reverend Karuaera’s death is a great loss, not only for his family, but the entire nation, especially the AME Church community and the Swapo Party, which he served with dedication and loyalty for many years. Founding President and Father of the Namibian Nation Dr Sam Nujoma also described Karuaera as a true patriot and committed Swapo Party cadre, telling the mourners that he was dismayed by Karuaera’s death. Nujoma knew the late Kuruaera for a very long time dating back to the 1950’s when they drafted petitions to the United Nations demanding the independence of Namibia. Karuaera was also the secretary of the Herero Paramount Chief Hosea Kutako. “Indeed during the liberation struggle Rev Karuaera used to travel abroad under the Council of Churches of Namibia, which played an important role in providing Swapo the support of the World Council of Churches in Geneva, as well as the Lutheran World Federation and other international world bodies,” Nujoma told mourners.
Like many houses, especially in northern Namibia that were destroyed by the apartheid forces, in 1977 Karuaera’s homestead at Aminius was destroyed by the South African colonial troops, forcing him and his family to come and seek refuge in Windhoek. This was done because of his involvement with the Swapo Party. His son Uapingena Karuaera told mourners how they suffered at the hands of the apartheid regime and how many people, including relatives distanced themselves from them because of the harassment and intimidation by the notorious counter-insurgency unit of the South African Defence Force, Koevoet. Karuaera junior says life was not easy for them. The family is however consoled by the fact that their father was able to live and witness an independent Namibia, for which he sacrificed most of his adult life.
The family thanked and commended the government for according a State funeral to Rev Karuaera, saying it would have been difficult for them as a family, because they also lost another close relative a day after Karuaera’s death. Speaker after speaker described Karuaera as a good man, who stood like a rock and fought a good fight for his country. He was sent off with 17-gun salute as the casket was being lowered in the grave.
By Tonateni Shidhudhu