Former Katutura Central councillor Ambrosius Kandjii, who passed on yesterday, has been hailed as a dedicated nationalist who also worked hard as a student and sport activist.
The 49-year-old Kandjii, who has been held at the Witvlei police station since 28 December for allegedly being in violation of a protection order and malicious damage to property, died at Gobabis hospital in the early hours of yesterday after a short illness.
“I shed a tear for the late comrade Ambrosius Kandjii. We struggled together in many ways. As students at Kolin Foundation Secondary School, in student politics and in Namibia National Students Organisation (Nanso) as well as Swapo Youth League (SPYL),” former SPYL secretary Elijah Ngurare said yesterday.
“He was a committed nationalist. We learned so much from him. He worked hard as a student and as a sports activist. He was always willing to assist others. Our generation has lost a freedom fighter. We have lost a humanitarian. We have lost a family man. We have lost a humble friend to both young and old. Go well, my brother and comrade.”
Popular Democratic Movement (PDM) president McHenry Venaani said Kandjii’s passing is a big loss not only to his family but to the nation at large.
“Namibia has lost someone who was very kind to people. He leaves a void in the political space of the country and I am saddened by his passing. My condolences go to his family, his wife, and the entire ruling party Swapo,” Venaani said.
Rally for Democracy and Progress (RDP) president and MP Mike Kavekotora said Kandjii was an active energetic young man who dedicated his life to serving others. “His passing on is a loss not only to his family but to entire Namibia. May his soul rest in peace,” Kavekotora said.
Nudo secretary general and MP Josef Kauandenge said Kandjii will be remembered by his party as a man of strong character, a pragmatic and forceful being who really has the interest of his community at heart.
“I personally had an encounter with him when we both run as opposing candidates in the 2015 regional council elections for Katutura Central, when he beat me with a difference of a few votes, after the election on his victory, he stated truthfully that he acknowledged that for the first time he had a very formidable candidate and wished me well,” Kauandenge said.
“Honourable Kandjii fought relentlessly for social justice, but his tactics often brought him in conflict with the law and some members of this constituency. He was a man of few words and was action oriented. For him to die at such a young age is really regrettable as he could have still contributed immensely to the growth of this country.”
Kandjii also served as a member of the National Council.
He was the Swapo regional councillor for Katutura Central constituency from 2010 to 2020. He also served as a member of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Public Accounts and Economy from 2011 to 2015, as well as the member of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Habitat from 2011 to 2015.
Similarly, he served as a member of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Gender, Youth and Information Communication Technology from 2011 to 2015.
He joined Swapo in 1986 where he served on the party youth league executive committee from 2002 to 2008 and also as the party’s Katutura branch treasurer from 2000 to 2009.
Kandjii was the Nanso chairperson and regional treasurer from 1990 to 1992.
He was also the boxing executive from 1993 to 2009. He was the manager of the Namibia boxing team from 2000 to 2010. He served on the Namibia Professional Boxing and Wrestling Control Board from 1998 to 2007.
Kandjii was also the head of NBC Radio sports desk from 1993 to 1996 and national boxing development officer from 1996 to 2010.