Gove
Minister of Presidential Affairs Frans Kapofi on Saturday described the late Shambyu leader Queen Angelina Matumbo Ribebe as an exemplary, gallant leader who touched the lives of many.
Queen Angelina Matumbo Ribebe of the Shambyu tribe of the Kavango East Region died on June 14 of a chronic kidney ailment in the Roman Catholic Hospital in Windhoek.
Kapofi made the remarks during the queen’s burial witnessed by hundreds at Gove village in Mashare – 35 km east of Rundu on Saturday morning.
Ribebe was diagnosed with chronic kidney illness almost a decade ago and for many years she has been in and out of hospital.
The Shambyu royal family and hundreds of people from all walks of life, including school children, converged at Gove to pay their last respects to Queen Ribebe, who was interred at the royal family’s grave yard along the Kavango River.
Kapofi represented President Hage Geingob at the burial.
“I extend to you condolences from his Excellency Dr Hage Geingob, the president of our republic, who was not able to be here because of other equally important national undertakings,” said Kapofi.
“It is not customary for heads of state to speak at funerals elsewhere in the world but in our Land of the Brave, where we are one family, we meet at moments like this as a big family,” he said.
“Hompa Angelina Matumbo Ribebe was one of the exemplary pillars and cornerstones of the Namibian house, she was a noble sister, a mother, leader, a comrade and a neighbour to many. You have heard how much this gallant leader meant to many whose lives she has touched,” said the Preidential Affairs Minister.
“Dear mourners, we are a house of peace, we are a house of stability, a house which secures our future, as a community leader and a loyal soldier of our party Swapo, we owe her gratitude for the Namibia that we enjoy today, and which the world respects so much,” said Kapofi.
He added that Hompa Ribebe completed the race in the name of the people of the Republic of Namibia.
“I say that we shall not forget you Hompa Matumbo Ribebe, we have seen you labour in this house, we have seen you endure pain and suffering, we shall continue to take over what you have taught us in times of good and bad, we salute you, go in peace.”
The body of the queen was first taken to the palace at Kayengona village east of Rundu for the last time before the burial where royal family members also performed traditional rituals befitting her royal status.
Local shebeen and cuca shops were closed in the morning at given times and remained closed on Friday and Saturday to give people time to mourn and pay tribute to their queen. Ribebe has been chief of the Vashambyu since May 19, 1989, when she took over after the death of her brother Gothard Haininga in a car accident. Queen Ribebe leaves behind her husband, Alois Gende, five children and nine grandchildren.
The burial was also attended by several members of parliament, among them, Sebastiaan Karupu, Marina Kandumbu, Minister of Agriculture, Water and Forestry John Mutorwa. DTA president McHenry Venaani, APP president Ignatius Shixwameni and representatives from the government of Angola from Cuando Cubango province as well as the leader of the Shambyu tribe in southern Angola Raina Mutango II Hompa Eveline Mudi Kandjimi also attended the burial.
Kavango West Governor Sirkka Ausiku and Kavango East Governor Dr Samuel Mbambo were also in attendance and so were various church leaders.