By Kuzeeko Tjitemisa
WINDHOEK – Reverend Assaria Cleophas Kamburona, who was buried on Saturday at Okahandja cemetery, was an outspoken and fearless bishop who forged his way from controversy to become a highly respected clergy of the Protestant Unity Church, also known as Oruuano.
Bishop Kamburona died on November 27, just two days after Christmas aged 82 years, and was buried in the Okahandja cemetery at a section in the cemetery called “the Bishop House”.
Kamburona ‘Omukuejuva uo Hauari’ was born in Mosita, Mafikeng District in South Africa on November 5, 1932, to Salinde Kamburona and Cleophas Karundu Kamburona.
He moved from South Africa with his parents to the then South West Africa (SWA), now Namibia, in 1942. At 10 years, he attended lower primary school at Omaue-jozonjanda in modern-day Epukiro Constituency in the Omaheke region.
Later, his uncle and teacher GG Mbuende – father to Dr Kaire Mbuende – assumed care of him as was the traditional norm for relatives to traditionally adopt children of their next of kin. He took him to Aminuis where he started schooling at Ritquelle Secondary School.
After completing Standard Six (Grade 8), Kamburona went to Gobabis in search of employment. His first job was at a tennis court as a sweeper.
He was later employed at Standard Bank as a clerk. Kamburona entered active politics in 1955, as member of the Ovaherero Chief Council under the leadership of Paramount Chief Hosea Kutako.
In 1962, Kutako’s bid for Kamburona to study and become leader of Oruuano was turned down by the SWA administration for unknown reasons and Reverend Ronald Gestwicki of the Anglican Church brought from the United States to fill the post.
Gestwicki became Kamburona’s private tutor but such tutoring was interrupted by Gestwicki’s deportation from SWA in 1970.
By 1972, all replacements brought in to continue with the establishment of a Bible Study programme had been expelled and Kamburona eventually obtained his theology diploma through correspondence. He was later appointed as the leader of Oruuano in 1976, a position he held until his death. Kamburona also served as the President of the Council of Churches in Namibia 2012-2013.
During his political career, Kamburona was a founding member of National Unity Democratic Organisation of Namibia (NUDO) in 1964 and served as a national organiser until 1976 when he was appointed as the leader of Oruuano church, taking over from Reverend Reinhardt Ruzo.
He was a member of the Turnhalle Constitutional Conference from 1975 to 1977, and a member of the first pre-independence South West Africa’s National Assembly from 1981 to 1983.
Kamburona also served as a member of the Gobabis Town Advisory Board from 1961 until independence as well as member of the SWA Water Advisory Board from 1979 until independence.
Apart from that, Kamburona played a vital role in helping Swapo veterans such as the Founding Father President Sam Nujoma, Hidipo Hamutenya, Nicky Iyambo, among others, clandestinely leave the country by housing some of them at house number 409 in Epako, Gobabis, in Omaheke region before their transit into exile via the Namibian/Botswana border through Botswana, then the British Protectorate of Bechuanaland.
Kamburona completed his Standard Eight (Grade 10) through correspondence. He obtained a Diploma in Theology from the All African School of Technology in 1975. He was also a Chairperson of Augustinuim Training College School Committee, Windhoek, from 1987.
Kamburona leaves behind his wife, Plentine Kavenejova Hoveka, and 15 children, among them Adolf Kamburona – former member of the Rally for Democracy and Progress (RDP) executive committee.