WINDHOEK – Tributes continue to pour in for the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) Board member and senior research associate, Professor Bill Lindeke, as well as acting chief executive officer of the Communications Regulatory Authority of Namibia (CRAN), Hilma Hitula, both of whom passed away last week.
Lindeke passed away on Thursday afternoon last week at his home in Windhoek. He had been seriously ill for several months having been diagnosed with cancer in 2013.
“Today we are grieving the loss of a dearly cherished friend and colleague but we are also celebrating the many ways in which Bill enriched our lives. Bill had been a source of sage advice as an IPPR Board member for the best part of the last decade and a highly committed research associate who helmed the Afrobarometer project through the last three national surveys. As such, he was a well-known and respected figure in the international research community concerned with governance and democracy throughout the continent. Namibian and African scholarship is impoverished by his loss,” said the IPPR’s executive director Graham Hopwood.
Meanwhile, on Friday CRAN chairperson Lazarus Jacobs announced the death of Hilma Hitula, who relentlessly fought and lost her battle against cancer.
“The departure of Ms Hitula, who was a committed and loyal board member and subsequently the acting chief executive officer of CRAN, worked over and above her call of duty and she will be sorely missed,” said Jacobs.
“Hitula was a true reflection of a dedicated, professional and specialist expert who remained a true patriot and her passing will leave a void that will be extremely difficult to fill,” added Jacobs.
“I wish on behalf of the entire CRAN family to extend my sincere condolences to the bereaved family, friends, colleagues and industry stakeholders that they will remain in our thoughts and prayers always, especially during this difficult time of bereavement,” said Jacobs.