Shoki Kandjimi 

From an early age, the late Ignatius Shixwamweni distinguished himself as a dependable cadre and a man driven by courage and desire to do what is right. 

This is how President Hage Geingob eulogised the late All People’s Party leader during a memorial service in his honour at the Rundu Trade Fair centre on Friday. 

Shixwameni was laid to rest on Saturday at the Sarusungu cemetery, close to his late mother and brother. 

He died in Windhoek on 10 November 2021 after he collapsed at the parliament building while attending a parliamentary standing committee meeting. He was 55. 

Mourners from all walks of life who gathered in Rundu described Shixwameni as a selfless patriot and principled leader, who fought against the apartheid education system and for the liberation of an independent Namibia. 

President Geingob – in a speech read on his behalf by Prime Minister Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila – described Shixwameni as a patriot who sacrificed his youth to fight for the liberation of Namibia and her people. 

“From a young age, Honourable Shixwameni understood the society in which he lived and the suffocating atmosphere of apartheid racism which was used to curtail the advancement of black Namibians, socially, intellectually and economically,” said Geingob. 

“He, thus, honed his leadership capabilities in his youth, distinguishing himself as a dependable cadre on whom his peers could rely to provide ideas for charting a path towards the improved livelihood and freedom of the Namibian people.” 

Geingob further said Shixwameni displayed courage and was a brave freedom fighter and active pro-independence and anti-apartheid campaigner, adding that he, alongside other young peers of his era, took on the responsibility of organising the youth to fight for socio-economic justice, equality, prosperity, peace and freedom. 

The President further indicated that while the independence of Namibia was fought on multiple fronts, using various weapons and tools, he noted that for Shixwameni, education was his weapon to fight the colonial regime. 

“A dedicated builder of organisational structures, Honourable Shixwameni valued creativity and sought to mould the individual talent of his fellow cadres through the process of mentoring. Indeed, he was not only dedicated to his mission to fight for the liberation of the Namibian people but he was also devoted to the wellbeing and development of those who joined him on this noble mission,” he said.  

APP national chairperson Linus Muchila described Shixwameni as a unique politician who never compromised on his principles.   

“Comrade Shixwameni was, indeed, an exceptional politician, who stood firmly on the principle of solidarity, freedom and justice for all Namibians. Throughout his entire life, he fought tirelessly for social and economic justice for all, irrespective of their social and economic status in society,” Muchila said.  

He further added when principles of social and economic justice for all were compromised in Swapo, Shixwameni did not compromise his principles, and resigned from the ruling party unfashionably.  

Shixwameni at the dawn of independence served as the president of Namibia National Students Organisation (Nanso) and spearheaded students’ protests in the early 1980s for a decolonisation of the education system.   He later became the secretary of the Swapo Party Youth League from 1992 until 1998, and a member of the Swapo Central Committee from 1992 until 1999. 

The former youth leader served as deputy minister of information from 1997 to 1999 before becoming the secretary general of the Congress of Democrats (CoD) from 2000 until 2004.  In 2009, Shixwameni became the founding president of APP and its leader in parliament from 2010 until the day of his passing.  Muchila said Shixwamen left a huge void in his party, which will be difficult to fill, as his character and style of leadership are unmatched. 

“It will be very difficult to replace him… The huge challenge now rests upon his party that he formed to make sure we live to his expectations,” he pointed out. 

He encouraged party members to remain strong and take Shixwameni’s party forward.