By Staff Reporter
WINDHOEK – Founding President Sam Nujoma has described the late Ambassador William Ndeutapo Amagulu as “a shrewd Swapo diplomat”, who had good insight into the world of diplomacy, a trait that helped him in carrying out his task as deputy political commissar of the Swapo’s military wing, the People’s Liberation Army of Namibia (PLAN), before independence.
“For this reason, after independence, the late Comrade Ambassador Amagulu was assigned by the Government of the Republic of Namibia to represent our country in several diplomatic missions abroad; where he continued to champion our principled stand and values as expressed in our country’s foreign policy,” Nujoma said in his tribute to the late Amagulu, whom he described as a “relentless freedom fighter and a veteran of the national liberation struggle”.
Amagulu passed away on January 27 at Katutura hospital at the age of 67.
“I […] join my fellow mourners to bid farewell and pay tribute to a gallant and unwavering freedom fighter, a capable administrator and seasoned diplomat who performed outstanding deeds in the service of our country and its people. While we mourn his passing on, we also celebrate his legacy – which I am confident will be a source of strength for us all and the entire bereaved family,” said Nujoma, adding that the late Amagulu will always be “remembered by the current and future generations of Namibians as we chart the future destiny of our country”.
Amagulu joined the liberation struggle in May 1976 and went on to serve in different capacities before he was appointed deputy political commissar of PLAN. Later he was assigned to open the Swapo representation office in Harare, Zimbabwe, the he was sent to Ethiopia and the Organisation of the African Union (OAU). After Namibia’s independence, he joined the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and was appointed as the High Commissioner of Namibia to the Federal Republic of Nigeria, covering all West African countries, including Ghana, Togo, Benin and the Gambia. Thereafter, he was appointed High Commissioner to Malaysia, covering Indonesia, Thailand and the Philippines. After the completion of his diplomatic mission, he served at the Ministry of Environment and Tourism, as the Deputy Permanent Secretary and later was assigned to establish the Ministry of Veterans’ Affairs, where he was the Permanent Secretary until his retirement in August 2013.
Amagulu, who was buried on February 7 in Windhoek, is survived by his wife, mother, three siblings, five daughters and five grandchildren.