KING KAULUMA – Simeon Linekeela ‘Kambo’ Shixungileni, who until his death last week was one of two last surviving men of the six that fired the first shot which marked the beginning of the armed liberation struggle, asked not to be buried at a heroes memorial site but rather to be laid to rest at his home village.
“His exact words were, ‘I know I’ll die one day, but please don’t carry my body far from here, don’t take my body to Onghulumbashe or Windhoek (Heroes Acre). I want to stay among my people.’ His second wish was to have his grave built [from underground],” explained the widow Teopolina Shimuningeni-Shixungileni.
The widow of Shixungileni and the late Shixungileni’s sister, Ester, informed the Minister of Veterans Affairs Dr Nickey Iyambo of the late Shixungileni’s wish to be laid to rest in his home village of King Kauluma in Oshikoto Region on Friday at their homestead at King Kauluma village in Oshikoto district.
“Tate [Shixungileni] did not only speak about his wish when he was in ill health, he had been talking about this for a very long time. He said he did not want to go far from his people, he wanted to stay in King Kauluma where his people can visit him,” they said.
Kambo who was the second in command during the first battle when PLAN fighters encountered South African soldiers at Omugulugwombashe in Omusati Region on August 26, 1966, passed away last Tuesday in Oshakati State Hospital after a long battle with cancer. He was 80.
His death leaves only one person, Nelson Kavela Sadrag, from the group of six men who first engaged the South African soldiers in armed fire at Omugulugwombashe. Sadrag is well and alive. The others, who have all passed on, were John Otto Nankudhu, Patrick Israel Iyambo Lungada, Messah Victory Namuandi and James Hamukuaja Angula, also known as Shoonjeka. Shixungileni is survived by his wife, six children and two siblings.
Dr Iyambo who was visiting the late Shixungileni’s homestead at King Kauluma on Friday said President Hifikepunye Pohamba suggested that the fallen hero would be accorded a state funeral and he should be buried at the Omugulugwombashe heroes memorial site on Saturday October 11.
He however maintained that the head of state had only made the suggestion but the state would always respect the late Shixungileni’s wishes or/and that of the family.
Both the state and the family had then agreed that the burial take place at King Kauluma next Saturday, starting with the memorial service on Friday afternoon.
Iyambo was accompanied by Oshikoto Regional Governor Penda yaNdakolo, Oshikoto Regional Council Management Committee Chairperson Marx Nekongo and Oshikoto Region Swapo Party Coordinator Armas Amukwiyu.