By William J. Mbangula
ONIIMWANDI
About 36 years ago, Reverend Wilhelmine Mpingana Shikomba made history by being one of the first two women to be trained as theologians of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Namibia (Elcin).
After serving her church for such a long time, she retired to her home village of Onatshiku in Okatana constituency. For the 4 560 members of Oniimwandi parish where she served for 10 years (1997 to 2007) parting with their spiritual shepherd was not an easy and ordinary event.
One of the most memorable days for the spiritual folk here as they bade farewell to one of their loved leaders was Sunday, June 24. A colourful gathering attended by the Head of the Elim Deanery Reverend Wilbard Shikesho, Elcin Church Secretary Dr Veikko Munyika, Dr Thomas Shivute, Elcin Bishop for the Western Diocese, former classmates both at primary school and the theological seminary such as the editor of the Elcin Church newsletter, Omukwetu, Reverend Set Son Shivute, her former learners and teachers and colleagues in the spiritual care of the church family came to sing praises for the pastor whom they described as a good shepherd. Others in attendance were representatives from the Anglican and Catholic churches, who also delivered messages of solidarity.
Apart from being the parish pastor of Onimwandi, she was also the deputy leader of the more than 26 000-member Elim Deanery supervising seven parishes of Elim, Ekamba, Oshitowa, Oniimwandi, Oshakati, Iipandayamiti and Ompundja.
Trained as a teacher from 1962 to 1965 at Okahao and only teaching for two years, she was influenced by her local pastor Jason Amakutuwa to follow in his footsteps as a spiritual leader.
This was at a time when women pastors were not considered in her church. Although women were allowed to study theology, it was still an uphill battle to have them ordained. It is for this reason, New Era was told, that it took 20 years for her to be ordained after completing her four-year (1968 to 1971) studies at the then Otjimbingwe-based Paulinum Theological Seminary.
Shikomba and the late Reverend Hilma Pauly Shilongo were the only two women in the class of 10 theological students there. Among the male classmates were Set Son Shivute, Reinhold Muremi, Hiskia Ndjoze Uanivi, Tobias Shiwana, Jesaja Uahengo, Paulus Musheko, Jacobs Ngampurue and Johannes Mufeti.
When the male pastors were ordained, Shikomba and Shilongo were only blessed at a ceremony at Endola in 1972. They were kept waiting for the next 20 years until their eventual ordination by Bishop Kleopas Dumeni on May 17, 1992.
By the time of their ordination, there were many women who had completed their theological studies.
Currently they are more than 20.
Recalling her good and bad days at Oniimwandi, Shikomba told New Era that one of the sad moments during her 10-year stint here was that she had to preside over the increasing funerals of young people.
Such incidents, whatever the causes of the deaths, were painful to her and have left a permanent mark on her, considering that the most productive people in society do not reach their maximum potential.
She is more worried about the increase of the HIV/AIDS pandemic. Said Shikomba: “I would like to advise our youth to be careful about their sexual behaviour. They should adhere and stick to the customary teaching of our communities to abstain from sexual activities. Our forebears had also feelings and urges for sexual attention but they knew how to control themselves. I want the youth also to do the same.”
On the good days which helped sustain her peaceful stay at Oniimwandi, Shikomba said her folk were open minded people who did not choose to be silent sufferers at the expense of what they felt was right. They will always speak out and give advice were necessary.
Before she was sent to Oniimwandi, her home parish since childhood, she was afraid that the people would adopt the old habit of not respecting her since they knew her from childhood. She said so because normally people do not respect a person whom they have seen growing up.
Such leaders if delegated to their native areas are always despised hence the practice of sending them to other areas where their dignity and reputation are not at stake because of background experiences.
Noted the pastor: “I was very surprised that members of my congregation, some of them my former teachers, schoolmates and elders were treating me like their own child. I was served well, given gifts, taken wherever I need to be taken and highly respected and listened to during my sermons. I think this is something which I should thank them for and remain indebted to them”.
She thinks what could have contributed to the smooth relations with the people is the advice given by her former teacher at Okahao, Maria Hamata, who said time management should be the hallmark of her daily work. She was never late for anything. This encouraged the entire congregation to take her as a serious shepherd of God s flock.
Married to former Robben Island political prisoner Gaus Iipinge Shikomba since 1985, a mother of a single child Judith who is now a student at the Polytechnic of Namibia, Mpingana is a daughter of Petrus Endjala Amweelo and Sarah Amunkete from Otuwala village. Now that she is in retirement, Shikomba, a courageous and determined woman who obtained her BA degree from the University of Namibia (UNAM) at the age of 54 in 1996, has set her goals and is committed to achieve them. She is still prepared to serve the church whenever it is required of her to do so.