WINDHOEK- Former Namibian politician Andrew Matjila, who celebrated 60 years of marriage - the diamond wedding anniversary - with his wife last weekend says marriage is sacred and brings couples closer to God.

Matjila, an 86-year-old devout Catholic, advised young people to place their love and lives before God. During a time when divorce has become prevalent, Matjila said he and his wife Agnes prayed together, attended church and sought advice from above throughout their more than half a century together.  Sixty years is hailed as diamond wedding anniversary. 
Matjila stated that love was the secret in staying together with Agnes. “In life you also get love at first sight. When you meet someone, you feel like they are the one,” said the former parliamentarian.

Matjila stated that when a man meets a woman, he should ask God if that’s her wife or girlfriend. “Ask for blessings from above. If she is not your wife, you will part very quickly but if she is your future wife she will be interested in things that you do,” remarked Matjila at fancy event at Safari hotel over the weekend. The theme of the anniversary was Sophia Town and guests adorned dresses of the 60s.

Matjila jokingly said when he met Agnes he wasn’t just a boy - he had many other girlfriends. “In fact, in my young days, I swept girls of their feet,” he told the guests who responded with laughter.  

“But when I met her, something happened in my mind, something in me seems to says ‘maybe this could be the mother of your children’. I might exaggerate but I am saying this seriously,” Matjila recalled.
The couple have eight children, 21 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. Also in attendance were family members and friends from South Africa. 

Other guests included Professor Joseph Diescho, Secretary to Cabinet George Simataa, who was a pupil during 1965 at a school in Katima Mulilo where Matjila taught shortly after his arrival from South Africa, and Matjila’s friend of more than 30 years Andrew Muwonge, who is an honorary counsellor for Namibia in Uganda.

Matjila said he met Agnes in 1956 in Pretoria and got married two years later on 7 April 1958.
Still looking very in love, the couple toasted their anniversary and kissed, before they opened the dancing floor.  The couple waited to celebrate their diamond wedding anniversary in September, the birth month of Agnes who turned 80.
When asked to share her 60 years journey with Andrew, a smiling Agnes told New Era she was too happy to express how she felt. However, her husband stated that there were many things he was grateful to have Agnes. 

“One thing I am grateful for is that she supported me in things I did for God,” he responded, adding that they prayed, sang and went to church together and that’s important in his life.

Matjila further advised young people to avoid alcohol and drug abuse as they were the young people’s biggest enemy.
The couple is originally from Pretoria, South Africa. Matjila, a teacher by profession, came to Katima Mulilo in 1964 after a Catholic mission at the town sent a priest to search for qualified teachers in South Africa. 

At the time, the location where Matjila’s school was desegregated like the Old Location in Namibia.
Matjila came with the priest in 1964 and settled in Katima Mulilo before he later moved to Windhoek. 
Matjila, when asked what he has learnt from the 60 years of marriage to Agnes, responded that marriage is the teacher of all.  Muwonge said Matjila said it taught him loyalty, forbearances, humility, forgiveness and many great other values one would have not needed if they stayed single.