Double tragedy hits Swapo
STAFF REPORTER
The ruling party lost two of its leaders in separate incidents yesterday.
The first tragedy took place early yesterday morning when 35-year-old Walvis Bay local authority councillor Samson Nghilumbwa died in a crash on the Swakopmund-Arandis road.
Later in the morning news filtered in of the collapse of long-serving Oshakati East constituency councillor Lotto Kuushomwa in the National Council chambers. He later died in a Windhoek hospital. He was 59.
Tributes are pouring in. Walvis Bay mayor Immanuel Wilfred expressed great sadness over the death of Nghilumbwa.
“We share the grief of the many involved with him in his many activities for the benefit of the community. Councillor Nghilumbwa, whose passing is a sad loss, will be greatly missed,” he said.
In a statement, the Swapo Party Youth League (SPYL), of which Nghilumbwa was an active member, said it had lost a brother, colleague and friend.
According to the Erongo police, Nghilumbwa was travelling alone in the direction of Swakopmund before 06:00 and lost control of his vehicle, which crashed into an oncoming truck.
He died on the spot, while the 29-year-old truck driver and his assistant escaped unharmed.
“The deceased lost control over his vehicle and hit an oncoming Scania truck (N22761WB) on its front right side which was coming from Swakopmund. The car was totally damaged and the deceased passed away on the spot,” said Deputy Commissioner Erastus Iikuyu.
The exact cause of the accident could not yet be established.
Nghilumbwa, who became a councillor in 2015, served as the chairperson of the Walvis Bay management committee from 2017, but was replaced in December 2018.
He was also the vice-chairperson at Husab Mine, as well as the Erongo SPYL’s spokesperson.
Remembering Kuushomwa
National Council chairperson Margaret Mensah-Williams paid tribute to the late Kuushomwa, describing him as a faithful servant through his various roles, including being a freedom fighter.
“As we mourn our dear colleague, comrade and friend, allow me, on my own behalf and that of everyone at Parliament to extend my sincere condolences to his family, comrades and friends,” she said.
Kuushomwa was a former PLAN combatant and helicopter pilot. He was a long-serving regional councillor in Oshana and previously served as council chairperson.
-Additional reporting Nampa and Erwin Leuschner
The ruling party lost two of its leaders in separate incidents yesterday.
The first tragedy took place early yesterday morning when 35-year-old Walvis Bay local authority councillor Samson Nghilumbwa died in a crash on the Swakopmund-Arandis road.
Later in the morning news filtered in of the collapse of long-serving Oshakati East constituency councillor Lotto Kuushomwa in the National Council chambers. He later died in a Windhoek hospital. He was 59.
Tributes are pouring in. Walvis Bay mayor Immanuel Wilfred expressed great sadness over the death of Nghilumbwa.
“We share the grief of the many involved with him in his many activities for the benefit of the community. Councillor Nghilumbwa, whose passing is a sad loss, will be greatly missed,” he said.
In a statement, the Swapo Party Youth League (SPYL), of which Nghilumbwa was an active member, said it had lost a brother, colleague and friend.
According to the Erongo police, Nghilumbwa was travelling alone in the direction of Swakopmund before 06:00 and lost control of his vehicle, which crashed into an oncoming truck.
He died on the spot, while the 29-year-old truck driver and his assistant escaped unharmed.
“The deceased lost control over his vehicle and hit an oncoming Scania truck (N22761WB) on its front right side which was coming from Swakopmund. The car was totally damaged and the deceased passed away on the spot,” said Deputy Commissioner Erastus Iikuyu.
The exact cause of the accident could not yet be established.
Nghilumbwa, who became a councillor in 2015, served as the chairperson of the Walvis Bay management committee from 2017, but was replaced in December 2018.
He was also the vice-chairperson at Husab Mine, as well as the Erongo SPYL’s spokesperson.
Remembering Kuushomwa
National Council chairperson Margaret Mensah-Williams paid tribute to the late Kuushomwa, describing him as a faithful servant through his various roles, including being a freedom fighter.
“As we mourn our dear colleague, comrade and friend, allow me, on my own behalf and that of everyone at Parliament to extend my sincere condolences to his family, comrades and friends,” she said.
Kuushomwa was a former PLAN combatant and helicopter pilot. He was a long-serving regional councillor in Oshana and previously served as council chairperson.
-Additional reporting Nampa and Erwin Leuschner
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