By Nuusita Ashipala and Loide Jason
ONGULUIMBASHE – Swapo veteran of the liberation struggle and one of the movement’s soldiers who fired the first shots at Ongulumbashe in 1966 to mark the beginning of military warfare, Lameck Iithete, was buried at Ongulumbashe yesterday.
Iithete who is known for his revolutionary work during the liberation struggle to free Namibia from her oppressors died at Ongwediva Medi-Park Private Hospital on August 19, where he had been admitted since July 18 this year.
President Hifikepunye Pohamba was among those who attended the funeral yesterday. He described the retired colonel as a brave icon of the liberation struggle whom with other nationalists never wavered.
Pohamba said mourners should be content that Iithete had lived to witness the transformation of segregation of society into a vibrant democracy towards economic and national development.
“Iithete has lived to witness the goal that he selflessly dedicated his adulthood, hence to uphold his legacy, patriotism and selflessness, Namibians should strive to work together”, the President urged.
“We need to work together to maintain and promote peace, unity, and tolerance as a catalyst to improve the living conditions of all our people,” said Pohamba.
Pohamba reminded the mourners to celebrate Iithete’s rich legacy and dedicate themselves to the value of freedom, which were the cornerstone of the revolutionary, recounting that Iithete’s death is a loss to both the family and Namibian nation.
“The family has lost a source of wisdom and a pillar of strength; the nation has lost a dedicated hero and freedom fighter,” said Pohamba.
Iithete, with other heroes under the leadership of John Otto Nankudhu, will be remembered for his contribution in the establishment of Ongulumbashe where the first gun was fired on 26 August 1966 marking the beginning of the first armed war in Namibia.
Iithete will also be remembered for the mobilising people to fight and liberate themselves from the hardship of colonialism. In recognition of his selflessness dedication to the struggle, the retired colonel, was honored with a colonel rank by Founding President, Sam Nujoma, together with retired colonel, Isack Shoome. Iithete was laid next to other fallen heroes, Joseph Uushona and Joseph Ipangelwa in honour of their bravery and tenacity to resist domination.
Iithete‘s burial came shortly after the remains of Peter Nanyemba, who is also known for his contribution to the Ongulumbashe fight, was reburied at Heroes Acre in Windhoek last week.
The funeral was jam-packed with people from all corners of the country, including cabinet ministers, members of parliament and regional councillors. Iithete, who hailed, from Okahao is survived by his wife Selma Iithete, children and grandchildren.
On Monday this week Namibia lost another liberation struggle icon, Simon Mzee Kaukungwa, who died in an Ongwediva hospital on Monday.