WINDHOEK - Swapo MP in the National Council, Ruth Nhinda, passed away yesterday after a short illness. She was also the councillor for Endola Constituency.

Also over the weekend, former Swapo regional councillor for Oshikango Constituency, Hiyavelwa Nambinga, died on Saturday evening in a car accident.

Nhinda, whose age could not be confirmed at the time of going to print, died in a Windhoek private hospital.

The two Swapo politicians died about three months after Ohangwena Constituency councillor, Maria Kombwana, died in May.

Nhinda died after Ohangwena Constituency held a by-election last Tuesday to fill the position previously held by Kombwana, who died from cancer.

Another by-election is expected to be held in the neighbouring Endola Constituency to fill Nhinda’s position, as is required by law.

“This is a tragic loss for the party because she was one of our best councillors. She served her constituency well and you would never hear anything negative about her,” Swapo Party Secretary General Nangolo Mbumba told New Era yesterday.

Nhinda, who died in the Medi-Clinic Hospital around 03h00 yesterday, is survived by her mother, husband and eight children.

A teacher by profession, Nhinda was a member of the National Council since becoming a regional councillor in 2004.

Mbumba recalled how, along with Nhinda, party members rallied behind Johannes Hakanyome during the Ohangwena Constituency by-election campaigns in recent weeks.

“Just the other week we were together at the by-election and now to hear of her passing on is really tragic. She was a decent woman and a honourable councillor who did not fight others in her politics. All she did was serve her community and constituency. Endola is a politically active constituency which developed tremendously under her guidance,” said Mbumba.

Ohangwena Regional Governor Usko Nghaamwa described the late Nhinda as a strong woman who never wavered.

“I knew her for quite some time now – we put up a Swapo branch in Ohalushu in 1988 and she was elected as the branch’s first coordinator,” he said.

Meanwhile, former Swapo regional councillor for Oshikango Constituency, Nambinga, was killed in a horrific car accident on Saturday evening.

Nambinga, 71, died on the spot while his wife Beatha, who was also injured in the accident, is reported to be in a stable condition in Engela Hospital.

The accident happened on the Ondangwa-Oshikango road in the Onhuno area.

It is reported that Nambinga‘s car collided head-on with an Angolan registered truck.

The truck driver, who was admitted to Engela hospital, was reportedly driving in the wrong lane. He will be charged with culpable homicide, local police said. 

By Mathias Haufiku and Loide Jason