Julina Kaakunga
“A knockdown is never a knockout. Stand up and fight because quitters never win, and winners never quit,” echoed through Commando No.2, Windhoek as speakers reminisced what the late Uazuva Heinrich Kaumbi would always say.
It was his favourite quote, whether he was dealing with one of his six children or an executive in the business realm, or even politics.
Kaumbi is credited as the executive producer of Founding President Sam Nujoma’s movie from his autobiography, ‘Where Others Wavered’; served as an executive at the National Housing
Enterprise; and was a passionate farmer. He also worked for the City of Windhoek and the ministry of agriculture as an engineer in the 90s and at construction firm Afrikuumba as business development manager.
Speaker after speaker described the now- departed Kaumbi as a principled man, and an academic par excellence who loved his family, his tribesmen, his nation and would never settle for less.
On Tuesday, dignitaries, friends, family, acquaintances, colleagues and loved ones converged under one roof in the heart of Katutura to pay their last respects.
Deputy Namibia University of Science and Technology council chairperson Norah Ndopu was among those who took the podium.
She stood in for Nust council chairperson, Leake Hangala.
“His absence is a great loss to the university,” Hangala said in the speech read on his behalf. Kaumbi was a member of the interim Nust council. He served as chairperson of the risk and audit committee.
Hangala remembered Kaumbi as an astute academician, and a highly reflective and analytical person.
As could be observed from the simple nods from the crowd gathered that evening, his words echoed in their sub-conscious as true.
“Nust is indeed saddened by his demise. Even when he was not well, he attended to his duties diligently,” Hangala said, before describing Kaumbi as a champion of restorative justice who stood by truth rather than emotions.
“We have lost a huge revervoir of knowledge,” he added.
Higher education minister Itah Kandjii-Murangi described Kaumbi as irreplaceable.
“It was his unique qualities that I looked at when I appointed him to the Nust council. As you can see, Kaumbi had various qualifications in different disciplines. The younger generation must emulate this, and venture into different fields because it is the only way you can survive in today’s world that requires diversity and flexibility,” the minister said.
She continued: “I have known Dr Kaumbi for so many years, without knowing him personally. However, what attracted me to him was his bright wisdom, his strong
desire to always keep on learning, as well as being a great writer in everything he
knew.”
A holder of a Doctor of Business Administration (DBA,) which he obtained in 2012 as the icing on the cake for his extensive academic accolades, Kaumbi also held an engineering degree from the University of the Witwatersrand and another in commerce from the University of South Africa.
The DBA holder was continuously remembered for his exceptional hands-on ability for all his studies and many job titles.
The former journalist was the sixth of his siblings from his parents Hilde Inaaihe Kaumbi and Gideon Ngurije Kaumbi.
One of the mourners, Venee Korumbo, offered words of hope to his wife and children, urging them not to give up, as he was not a quitter himself.
“There is no guilt in the world such as the guilt of knowing someone, which has brought us all here this evening,” Korumbo said.
She encouraged the youth to emulate his accomplishments, especially academically.
“I know you did not have quite an easy person to deal with, especially being educated. But at the end of the day, you knew he would always listen to you because it is not difficult for a lady to deal with a man, as men were born from women,” she said emphatically.
Kaumbi and his wife have been married for 31 years. To this, Korumbo declared her as a winner for a marriage that young people should look up to.
Children
On the night, emotions boiled over as his children paid tribute to their father.
If anything, Kaumbi left an indelible mark on each of them.
Their messages were read by Pahee Kaumbi, one of his five sons.
“Many of dads’ greatest traits were traits that he shared with his dad. He strived for greatness with everything he did; he had so many talents and values we hope to emulate, and that I hope passes through the generations of our family,” Pahee fondly recalled.
The bond between the father and his children seems to have had a remarkable impact in their lives as could even be seen through his last-born Pakouua Kaumbi, the only girl.
Pokauo is just 15.
While she cannot imagine life without her father, she promised to make him proud in whatever way she can.
If there is one thing the children agreed to bring back, one more time, was the seven-hour long drives to the farm they always had with their dad.
On his own part, Pahee said: “He was like a human encyclopaedia. Watching his mind working was a marvel. He was fast to come up with solutions, and fast with their implementation. He was a family man who loved his country, family and culture. Throughout many years of his illness, he continued working, sat in meetings of the OTA, and the [Swapo] think tank.”
“He would always say ‘a knockdown is not a knockout. Stand up and fight. Quitters never win. Winners never quit.”
– julinak990@gmail.com