Elizabeth Hiyolwa
NKURENKURU – The late Benedickus Johannes Nkundu, who died at the age of 80 on 19 March 2022 at Mururani, was laid to rest yesterday at Siya village in Kavango West’s Kapako constituency. Nkundu was accorded the honour of an official funeral by President Hage Geingob.
During a memorial service in his honour on Wednesday, family, friends and political leaders remembered the late Nkundu for his selfless dedication during the liberation struggle.
In a message of condolences by Geingob, read by Kavango West governor Sirkka Ausiku, Nkundu was described as a man of immense courage. “As we remember the life that this gallant son lived, we pay tribute to his courage, patriotism and unwavering spirit,” said the head of state.
Geingob added that “by choosing the difficult path of struggle, Comrade Benedickus sacrificed his own well-being to provide his fellow compatriots with the greatest of all gifts – independence and liberty.”
In a message of condolences by Founding President Sam Nujoma, which was read on his behalf by Nkurenkuru councillor Fillipus Tenga, Nkundu was described as a revolutionary who never deterred in his quest for true freedom and social justice, despite great risks.
“He was indeed a gentle revolutionary, whose personal modesty belied his courageous conviction and principled outlook on life in general.
His bravery, resilience and commitment to the liberation struggle has made our country and our continent a better place,” Nujoma remembered.
Meanwhile, the chairperson of the Kavango West regional council Joseph Sikongo described Nkundu as a real hero who had nothing but love for Namibia, including during the liberation struggle.
Nkundu, who was well-known as Mukorokoro by his fellow PLAN combatants, began his political career in 1974 in the then Kavango region by mobilising people to join the national liberation struggle under the banner of
Swapo.
He then spent 14 years in exile, where he joined PLAN in 1975 and was trained at Kasapa in Angola. He is survived by his wife, six children and 13 grandchildren.