Zebaltd Ngaruka
Former Otjinene constituency councillor Adolph Kaikakuire Kangootui will be buried at Ozombuzovindimba in the Otjinene constituency tomorrow.
Ozombuzovindimba is an Ovaherero Traditional Authority shrine, situated about 30 kilometers east of Otjinene.
Confirming this to New Era was Simon Kangootui, a maternal brother of the late councillor, adding that a memorial service of the departed councillor will take place during the early hours today at Otjinoko village.
Yesterday, the late councillor’s remains made a turn at the Otjinene constituency office before the convoy headed to his home village, Otjinoko, which is 70km east of Otjinene.
“As he is accorded with the official funeral from His Excellency Dr Hage Geingob, the whole of Friday is reserved for the memorial service, and Saturday is strictly assigned to the government programme,” his brother said.
On behalf of the Kangootui family, Simon expressed gratitude for government’s decision to send the late Kangootui off by way of an official funeral.
“This is testament to his bravery ,and that he stood firm against any form of colonial oppression,” Simon added.
Meanwhile, former Namibia National Front (NNF) party head in Okakarara Lazarus Ruvao Nunuhe said the government’s honour on the late Kangootui is well- deserved.
“We were arrested together on many occasions like at the 1975 demonstration of the Democratic Turnhalle Alliance in Windhoek. We held placards together, and plans were there for us to be taken to Robben Island,” Nunuhe said.
He also described Kangootui as a principled and law-abiding citizen, who wanted things to be done in an orderly manner.
“We suffered together – and when he came back from Ghana after sickness, he found me heading the Okakarara NNF office and shared my salary of N$120 that time,” he remembered.
More so, current Otjinene constituency Erwin Katjizeu, echoed similar sentiments to those of Nunuhe.
“I have to compliment the President [Geingob] for this gesture because we, in the opposition parties, are afraid to come forward with our people who deserve official funerals from the government.
“The late councillor will be dearly missed by the Otjinene people. He played a pivotal role in the development of our constituency, which we will always remember him for,” Katjizeu alluded.
The councillor said the legacy of Kangootui will remain intact, as plans are underway with the local authority to name a street in his honour.
Kangootui died on 24 June 2023.
He was 68, and he is survived by five children and 10 grandchildren.