By Prof. Peter H. Katjavivi, MP
REVEREND Bartholomew G. Karuaera of the African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church passed away in the early morning hours of September 22, at his residence in Windhoek. The late Karuaera was born on 21 January 1920 in Mariental, in the Hardap Region of Namibia.
His father was one of the prisoners at Shark Island at !Nami#Nus (former Lüderitz) during the German genocide campaign in Namibia. He received his primary education at Aminius in the Omaheke Region. He later went to study at Stofberg Teacher Training College in South Africa. Following the completion of this training, he returned to Namibia, where he taught in several schools. He was one of the early founders (Presiding Elders) of the AME Church in Windhoek. Thereafter, he joined the Chiefs Council of Paramount Chief Hosea Kutako, as a secretary, succeeding his fellow teacher and colleague, Bethold Kangavi Himumuine and later on served as the chairman of the council.
While undertaking his formal duties, in the late 1940s, the late Karuaera became Secretary General of the South African Railway Staff Association, a workers’ union representing black railway workers, with its headquarters in South Africa. As chairman of the Chiefs Council, he was involved in the drafting of the petitions to the United Nations for the independence of Namibia (by then referred to as South West Africa). He was also instrumental in the establishment of the African Improvement Society, which was an association dedicated to the improvement of life in the Old Location in particular, and elsewhere in various urban centres in general.
He was also a member of the delegation, which was sent to Botswana to meet Chief Tshekedi Khama to prepare the way for Rev. Michael Scott to visit Namibia and to meet Chief Hosea Kutako. Rev. Karuaera was also part of the resistance against the forcible relocation of our people from the Old Location to Katutura, together with the Founding President, Dr. Sam Nujoma and others. It was during this time that Karuaera together with Edwin Siegfried Tjirumuje and George Kaambo became Reverends of the AME Church.
They continued to play an active role in the politics of the country and in 1977, together with the late Chief Kamaarianda Maharero moved a sizeable number of members of the Ovaherero community to join the Swapo Party. While serving the AME Church, he was invited by the USA AME Church Secretariat to visit America in order to familiarise himself with the workings of the AME Church in the USA. This was also an expression of solidarity by the African communities in the Diaspora with their brothers and sisters in Namibia. Karuaera accepted the invitation and visited the USA. He and his close colleague Tjirimuje travelled far and wide across the world, serving the purpose of Swapo, as well as the church, promoting the liberation struggle led by Swapo. He died a bona fide member of Swapo and was recognised as a veteran as such, for the contributions he made. He was a presiding elder of the AME Church till the time of his passing on. He is survived by his wife Aline, children and grand-children.
MAY HIS SOUL REST IN ETERNAL PEACE!