ONGWEDIVA – The former mayor of Oshakati Town Council Engelbert Atshipara died on Sunday evening at the Windhoek Central Hospital died at the age of 77 following a short illness.
Atshipara who will be remembered for his immense contribution at the Oshakati Town and education sector was airlifted from the Oshakati Intermediate Hospital last week Monday to the Windhoek Central Hospital where he has been hospitalised until his death.
A relative, Frans Ndoroma described the late Atshipara as a hardworking and dedicated professional who took any task or job given to him seriously,
especially in the education sector and the Oshakati Town Council where he has served for 14 years.
“He took his job seriously and he brought changes to the education system and that is same culture he carried to Oshakati Town Council where he has served for 14 years,” said Ndoroma.
His son, Jordan Atshipara described his father as a pillar and a generous man who throughout his childhood has never seen him hospitalised. According to Atshipara the family is not only mourning the loss of the fallen, but related that the family is celebrating the life of a man who dedicated himself to serving people from all walks of life regardless of whether they are family or not.
“My father was a people’s person who loved people. The house was always full of people including relatives and community members who needed a place to commute from, to school,” said Atshipara.
The late Engelbert Atshipara was a teacher at Okatana from 1963 where he joined after qualifying as a teacher at Dobra Secondary School outside Windhoek.
He thereafter became the headmaster at the school and was later appointed as a school inspector before independence.
After independence he became a Director of Education.
In 1996 Atshipara became a member of Oshakati Town Council and in the same year he was appointed chairman of the management committee at the town.
He became the mayor of Oshakati from 1997 to 2007.
After his term as mayor ended, Atshipara reverted to being an ordinary councillor until 2010.
Among other portfolios Atshipara was a freedom fighter and served as a Swapo Branch Coordinator at Okatana.
Atshipara is survived by his wife Faustina Bonifatius Andjamba and 19 children. He was born on June 16, 1937.
Memorial and funeral arrangements will be communicated in due course.