By William Mbangula
Oshakati
Former Robben Island political prisoner and veteran of the liberation struggle Gaus Iipinge Shikomba is no more. He passed away on Saturday November 3, after suffering from what is believed to be a heart attack at his home village of Onatshiku in Okatana constituency.
His death was confirmed by the Governor of Oshana Region Clemens Kashuupulwa.
Born on January 27, 1935 at Onatshiku village in Okatana, Shikomba got into politics in 1958 when he first met Andimba Toivo ya Toivo at Ondangwa, where he was a political organizer of the then Ovambo People’s Congress (OPC) and Ovambo People’s Organisation (OPO), which were later transformed into the South West Africa People Organization (Swapo) on April 19, 1960.
In an interview with New Era in May this year, he said after meeting Ya Toivo at Ondangwa, politics became part of his life. He believed that politicians are needed both in times of war and peace.
As a result, Shikomba made a bold decision on February 23, 1966 when he was recalled from Walvis Bay to become an underground organiser of Swapo mainly responsible for the recruitment of trainees as guerrilla fighters.
When he became a mobilizer in and around his village, a tragic incident happened to one of his trusted comrades, Leo Shoopala.
One of the sad days of his political career was March 11,1966, he said then.
He was part of a group of political mobilizers at Uukwangula village in Oshana Region when they decided to meet the traditional leaders of Uukwambi headed by a certain Jackey Ashipala.
He recalled during the interview with New Era: “We were three of us: Leo Shoopala, Fidelis Laban and myself when the traditional leaders opened fire on us because, quite unwittingly, we went to their house to inquire about the delayed scheduled meeting at the seat of the traditional authority.
“As soon as we entered the homestead of Jackey Ashipala, they opened fire, killing Shoopala on the spot and seriously wounding Laban. I escaped unharmed.”
When the first clash of the Swapo combatants and South African colonial forces took place at Omugulugwombashe village in Omusati Region on August 26, 1966, Shikomba was one of the first people to be hunted down by the colonial occupiers.
They were regarded as agitators.
He went underground, only to be caught two years later after he had carried out many attacks on enemy installations, including an attack at Oshikango on September 27,1966.
Upon being arrested at Iikango village (Omusati Region), he was manhandled apart from being shot seven times in the legs. He was also severely beaten with a rifle butt which left him with a permanent scar on the head. Some of the wounds in his left leg necessitated a skin transplant.
After his arrest on January 27, 1968 – incidentally, that was his birthday – he was tried in Tshwane (Pretoria) and sentenced to life imprisonment together with some of his comrades. He was released from prison on May 11,1984 after spending close to 15 years in jail.
Some of the recognition given to him include the Community Care award in recognition for his time spent on Robben Island and his outstanding contribution towards Namibia’s struggle for freedom and independence. It was bestowed on him by the Father of the Namibian Nation and Founding President Dr Sam Nujoma, on July 10, 2004.
He is also a recipient of an award on April 21, 1995 from the first President of the non-racial South Africa, Nelson Mandela, who was a fellow prisoner at Robben Island. The award recognized his selfless contribution to the struggle for democracy.
Yet another award, the Omugulugwombashe Medal for bravery and commitment to the liberation struggle, was awarded him on Heroes Day, August 26, 1995 by Former President Nujoma in Windhoek.
The late Shikomba was one of the war veterans who were honoured with military ranks by President Hifikepunye Pohamba during the celebrations of Heroes Day at Eenhana on August 26 this year. He was given the rank of captain.
A recipient of a house as part of the government scheme aimed at rectifying the plight of war veterans, he was married to retired Reverend Wilhelmine Mpingana of Elcin Church whom he married on April 6, 1985, one year after his release from prison.
Shikomba is survived by his wife and their 21-year-old daughter Ndilipondina elago Judith, who is an information and communication technology student at the Polytechnic of Namibia.