Chief was an unwavering leader - Nujoma

The Founding President has described the late leader of the Ukwangali Traditional Authority in the Kavango West Region as a leader who had an unwavering, unrelenting and unyielding revolutionary spirit. Sam Nujoma said this in a speech read on his behalf by Deputy Prime Minister Marco Hausiku during the funeral of Chief Sitentu Daniel Mpasi on Saturday at the Mayara village royal graveyard, situated some 120 km west of Rundu. Mpasi died on December 17 at the Nkurenkuru Mission Hospital after a long illness. He was 80. Nujoma said during Namibia’s liberation struggle, Mpasi openly opposed the colonial regime’s Odendaal Plan, which was set up by the white minority South African regime to divide this country. Nujoma described the late Ukwangali leader as a man of steadfastness and perseverance in fighting against the apartheid white minority regime when he was involved in the national liberation struggle under the banner of Swapo in the early days of the struggle while he was a contract worker in Swakopmund. He said Mpasi was one of few traditional leaders who was involved openly and directly without fear in the liberation struggle of Namibia despite harassment and intimidation directed against him and his people by the South African apartheid regime. “He did not waver until the attainment of our genuine freedom on 21 March 1990. After independence Hompa Mpasi supported all Government efforts in developing his area of jurisdictions with projects such as the Tsumeb-Tsintsabis-Katwitwi-Nkurenkuru road, and advocated for many development projects such as schools, clinics, water boreholes and telecommunication facilities. Nujoma stated that as the nation mourns the loss of the Ukwangali leader, they should be consoled by the fact that he was fortunate to witness the attainment of the country’s independence and that his spirit will continue to guide as the nation charts its future destiny. President Hifikepunye Pohamba, First Lady Penehupifo Pohamba, Queen of the OuKwanyama Traditional Authority Queen Martha Nelumbu, Mpasi’s subjects and several Ministers and Members of Parliament attended the funeral. The late Ukwangali Chief is survived by his wife Irene Isoni Mpasi, nine children, 42 grandchildren and 50 great-grandchildren. Mpasi had been the 20th leader of the Ukwangali Authority and was leader for 35 years. He took over from his cousin, the late Chief Joseph Kandjimi, who died in 1979. MAYARA NAMPA