Stefanus Nambara
SIKONDO – A unifier, mother to many, selfless, outspoken, loving and a dedicated public servant, is how speakers remembered National Council chairperson Lukas Muha’s late wife Magreth Wayera Muha during her memorial service over the weekend.
Among those who delivered tribute messages last Friday during the official memorial service were Prime Minister Elijah Ngurare on behalf of the government, Speaker of the National Assembly Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila, Swapo Party secretary general Sophia Shangingwa and the vice chairperson of the National Council, Victoria Kauma.
Former presidents Hifikepunye Pohamba and Nangolo Mbumba sent their tribute messages.
“Muha (Magreth) was an individual with moral and ethical principles, integrity and resilience when faced with challenges and adversity, a very committed and exceptionally dedicated person,” recalled Maria Kudumo, the principal of Ruben Makaranga Combined School.
She spoke on behalf of the region’s directorate of education.
At the time of her passing, Magreth worked as an administrative officer at the abovementioned School.
“Your labour was not in vain. You touched many lives. You will always be remembered with love and gratitude,” she stated.
In a message read on her behalf by Ngurare, President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah said the passing of Magreth is a profound loss that has deprived the Muha family of a devoted carer.
“May you carry forward the light of her life with reverence, resilience and enduring love,” said Nandi-Ndaitwah.
“The Namibian nation stands with you in solidarity during this solemn time of mourning. We hope that you find comfort in cherished memories of Magreth and in the love that surrounds you from friends, family and the whole nation at large,” she added.
Muha recalled that his late wife was his pillar of strength in times of need.
She single-handedly ran family responsibilities at home in his absence.
“For the whole year, I had to survive on the already-small salary of my wife. This was another bad experience because, traditionally, it was believed that a man was not supposed to be fed by a woman. Wayera took that responsibility head-on without complaining,” he remarked.
Magreth’s siblings described her as a people’s person.
They added that her sudden death is a big loss to them, as she nurtured their children.
“There are some of our children who were under her care. We don’t know how they are going to survive now,” said one of the siblings, Edward Nekare, during the family’s memorial service on Thursday.
Muha was the sixth in a family of nine.
She was laid to rest on Saturday at the Ruuga cemetery.
She is survived by her daughter.
Muha died in a car accident after the vehicle they were travelling in hit cattle in the road at Mile 20 in the Kavango West region earlier this month.
*Stefanus Nambara is an information officer at the information ministry in the Kavango West.