EENHANA – Liberation struggle freedom fighter John Amakali (73), affectionately known as Nakaundule, was laid to rest at the Eenhana Memorial Shrine over the weekend.
He died on 6 March at the Okongo District Hospital in the Ohangwena region.
Amakali, who was a resident of Oshalumbu village in the Okongo constituency, commenced his political activism in 1975 when he went into exile and joined Swapo.
Various mourners across the country described the late Amakali as a peaceful man, who sacrificed himself to fight for the independence of Namibia.
After his military training, he became a member of the People’s Liberation Army of Namibia. Following independence, he continued to serve Namibia in the security sector until his retirement.
In a statement delivered on behalf of President Nangolo Mbumba and read by Ohangwena regional council chairperson Erickson Ndawanifa, the late Amakali was described as a fearless freedom fighter, whose contributions were invaluable before and post-independence.
Mbumba said the late veteran was a dependable cadre, and a loyal and faithful servant of the Namibian people, who had many virtues.
Meanwhile, Founding President Sam Nujoma said when
the apartheid regime intensified its repression, the late Captain Amakali took the difficult decision to leave the country and join the liberation movement in exile in 1975.
Nujoma stated that Amakali received his first basic military training as an underground intelligence officer at Kasapa in the eastern part of Angola.
“Indeed, the late Captain Amakali was – after his training in 1976 – sent to the North-Eastern Front as an underground intelligence officer to work with the then regional commander, the late comrade Matias Ndakolo (Mbulunganga),” he added.
Also speaking at the funeral, former president Hifikepunye Pohamba said Amakali was a dedicated and fearless freedom fighter.
“Due to his commitments, he was nominated to go to the Soviet Union, where he underwent training in intelligence until 1978. He then returned to the Northern Front after training, where he operated from 1978-1984,” Pohamba said. Amakali successfully created a sophisticated and very effective underground network along the Angolan-Namibian borders from the north-central areas to the Namib Desert.
“In 1983, Amakali was promoted to the position of regional chief of intelligence for the Northern front, where he recruited many members in the underground network, such as Mrs Bista Kauvi, late comrade Hosea Namupula and Tatekulu Kaluvi – to mention but a few,” said Pohamba.
Amakali is survived by his wife and six children.