OKAHAO – Ex-combatant and one of the founders of Namibia’s armed liberation struggle Lameck Iithete will be accorded a state funeral. Iithete died in the Ongwediva Medipark hospital about two weeks ago from natural causes.
Max Kaanandunge who is the late Iithete’s nephew and coordinator for the funeral arrangements said the memorial service would be held at Iithete’s residence at Ongozi village on the outskirts of Okahao on Wednesday, September 03, from 15h00. Members of the public are expected to start arriving from 13h00.
The burial will take place at Onghulumbashe on Thursday this week and the gates will open at 06h00. President Hifikepunye Pohamba is expected to attend both the memorial service and burial.
Apart from Pohamba, Namibia’s Founding President Sam Nujoma, a number of cabinet ministers, traditional leaders, senior community leaders as well as senior government officials are expected to be present.
Born on June 16, 1927 in Okahao, Lamek Ekandjo Iithete was one of the founders of the Ovambo People Organisation, which transformed into Swapo.
Like other young men of his time, Iithete went to work in the southern part of the country, but his involvement in politics led to his expulsion from his job and being sent back from Swakopmund to the former Ovamboland in 1962.
When he went home, Iithete continued mobilising and teaching people in northern Namibia about politics while at the same time he worked with his comrades including Patrick Iyambo (Lungada), Eliazer Tuhadeleni (Kaxumba kaNdola), Andimba Toivo Ya Toivo, Joseph Matheus, Ben Amathila, Nangolo Erastus Mbumba, Lot Homateni, among others, in furthering the cause of the struggle.
Between 1965 and 1966, Iithete received the first groups of People Liberation Army of Namibia (PLAN) fighters and used the party vehicle that was entrusted in his care to convey them to two Swapo camps – one in Otamanzi and the other in Onghulumbashe.
Following the August 26, 1966 battle at Onghulumbashe, Iithete became one of the most hunted Namibians by the South African Defence Force. He thus went into hiding from the colonial authorities, until 1969 when he was arrested and taken to Pretoria where he was imprisoned for three years.
He was released in 1972 but when he returned home, he continued with political mobilisation. Iithete left the country in 1980 to join his follow founders of the armed liberation struggle.
In exile, he served as the Deputy Secretary General for Swapo Elders’ Council. Together with thousands of Namibians, he returned home in 1989 and finally settled down at his homestead in Okahao, where he continued to advise and mobilise Swapo Party functionaries in Omusati Region.
Iithete is survived by his wife Selma Iithete, a young son and six siblings. Two of his sons died in exile. Iithete was one of 11 children including former Deputy Minister of Home Affairs and that of Environment and Tourism Nangolo Iithete, who died in September 2002.