By Surihe Gaomas WINDHOEK The former Namibian Ambassador to Cuba, Richard Kapelwa Kabajani, who died from a heart attack, will forever be remembered as one of the country’s veteran liberation leaders who contributed immensely to the political freedom of Namibia. Many Namibians who know the late Kabajani, who will be accorded a State funeral at Heroes Acre on Saturday, saw him as a mentor who inspired Caprivians and others to join the liberation struggle. Yesterday the Caprivi Regional Council held a memorial service in Katima Mulilo in his honour with close friends and relatives as well as traditional leaders and regional and local councillors present. Addressing the mourners on behalf of the council, Caprivi Regional Governor Bernard Sibalitani said that with the untimely death of Kabajani on the 17th of this month, the region has been robbed of a veteran and seasoned politician. “I got to know Ambassador Richard Kapelwa Kabajani as one of the earlier political leaders of the liberation struggle and a mentor who inspired many of those who joined the struggle from Caprivi,” said Sibalitani. Kabajani was one of the first groups of cadres from the Caprivi who left for exile in 1964 to join others in pursuing the country’s independence. The late ambassador did not only live in exile for over 25 years but directly took part in the war of liberation. He was a commander of the SWAPO Party military wing PLAN. Sibalitani said the late Kabajani was a tireless liberation fighter and he knew him personally as a dedicated veteran. “He pledged to be an active fighter in the war of liberation from the time he left this country and took a vow to die for the liberation of this country,” said Sibalitani. On many occasions, the Governor said, he had consulted the late Kabajani on various issues of national interest, and on the development of the Caprivi Region in particular. Upon his return from exile, Kabajani was appointed as director of elections in the Caprivi to oversee the political preparations and mobilization of people in the region. “He worked hard in fulfilling his mandate and was subsequently enlisted as a member of the Constituent Assembly,” added Sibalitani. The late Kabajani also held various cabinet portfolios. He was the first Minister of Transport and Communication, later he became Minister of Lands and Resettlement and finally Minister of Youth and Sport. He was also appointed as Namibia’s Ambassador to Cuba where he served since September 2000. He later retired from politics towards the end of 2004. For the past three years the late Kabajani was living in the Caprivi Region where he served as a political advisor for SWAPO. A memorial service will be held for him tomorrow at Parliament Gardens in Windhoek. He will be buried at Heroes Acre Saturday morning.