Elise Nangula Stephanus: The Patriot Who Never Wavered and A Veteran of Undisputed Credentials (1952 – 2012)

Home Editorial Elise Nangula Stephanus: The Patriot Who Never Wavered and A Veteran of Undisputed Credentials (1952 – 2012)

By Timoteus Mashuna

ALTHOUGH a rarely known figure within the mainstream political discourses on the history of the Namibian national liberation struggle, Stephanus is one of the many gallant sons and daughters of the land of the brave who demonstrated commitment and dedication to the struggle for Namibian independence. It is perhaps with reference to this that the Ministry of Veterans Affairs in its message of condolence upon the passing of Stephanus referred to her as a “veteran with undisputed liberation struggle credentials”, while the Sam Nujoma Foundation, in its eulogy, wrote that Stephanus “will be remembered by the current and future generations of Namibia as a patriot who never wavered until Namibia attained its freedom and genuine independence”.

Affectionately known as ‘Mee Nangy’, Stephanus was born on August 23, 1952 at Omutele village in the northern part of Namibia. She was the daughter of Oskali Kalompo and mother Aili Angula Nuukuni. Details regarding her early childhood upbringing and education are rather sketchy in the existing biographical collections, however she is known to have undertaken studies at the United Nations Institute in Zambia (UNIN) whilst in exile. There she obtained a certificate in project management, a certificate in women and development and a diploma in public administration.

Not much is also known regarding her political activities in Namibia prior to her departure for exile, however after she left the country for Angola in 1974, she began to play a very instrumental role in the struggle for liberation. Just shortly after her arrival in exile, Stephanus received military training at Kongwa Training Center in Tanzania. Even though it was not that customary for Swapo to deploy female cadres to the front, Stephanus, upon  completion of her military training, joined the People’s Liberation of Army of Namibia (PLAN) and was deployed to the eastern front. This is best captured in the eulogy from the Sam Nujoma Foundation which reads that “as one of the active members of SWAPO when she joined the liberation struggle in 1974 and became a member of PLAN, SWAPO’s Military Wing, she served at the Eastern Front, after she received military training at Kongwa Training Center in the United Republic of Tanzania in 1975”.

It further reads that “Nangula Stephanus later went for further studies at the United Nations Institute for Namibia (UNIN) in Lusaka Zambia where she did a three-year course in economics from 1985 to 1988”.

Following the implementation of Resolution 435 and the ultimate return of Namibians in exile in preparation for national elections. Stephanus, unlike many who could not return to see the independence of the their motherland, also returned home and took up a career in the public service in an independent Namibia. Perhaps owing to her education and military training in exile, she worked as an administrative officer, protocol officer and as first secretary in the Embassy of Namibia to the Republic of Zimbabwe, a position she held until her death in 2012.

Citing the role she played in the post-colonial Namibia, the Sam Nujoma Foundation wrote that “after independence, the late comrade Nangula Stephanus served the people of Namibia with commitment and dedication in different capacities.”

Similar assertions also appear in the eulogy from the Office of the President of the Republic of Namibia, which reads that “following the attainment of our national independence, Nangula Stephanus joined the Ministry of Foreign Affairs where she, with dedication and hard work, made invaluable contributions in various capacities.” Stephanus died on September 3, 2012.