Ex-governor dies after vicious attack
STAFF REPORTER
The former governor of Omusati Region, Leonard Nangolo Mukwiilongo, has succumbed to injuries after he was brutally attacked at his Elim residence in April this year.
Mukwiilongo died in a northern private hospital last night, his family confirmed to Namibian Sun. He was 92.
Mukwiilongo was tortured and assaulted by six robbers who demanded from him the keys to his safe.
His son, Tshatipamba, said the family was devastated, especially because of the manner his father died.
“No one deserves to die like that, and he was an old man who was supposed to die peacefully,” he said.
“He was a very strict disciplinarian who believed in what he stood for, be it politically or business-wise, and till his passing he refused to budge to unnecessary and evil approaches which took his life through armed robbery.”
Tshatipamba said the burden his father left behind would require a person of high calibre to carry on and as his only surviving son, he couldn’t even imagine filling his father’s shoes.
“I see heavy whirlwinds of change which he left me to face with heavy storms ahead,” he said.
Mukwiilongo was hospitalised over a month ago after he was attacked at his Elim residence and business place.
Six armed men had arrived at his house on 11 April at around 11:00 and found Mukwiilongo and a maid sitting outside. The robbers allegedly forced them inside the house where they demanded money.
They then allegedly blindfolded Mukwiilongo and the housekeeper and started demanding the safe keys, which he refused to hand over to them.
“They set fire to plastic bags and started torturing him. He was later hit in the head with a pistol,” Tshatipamba said at the time.
The robbers then locked Mukwiilongo and the maid inside the room and tried to flee with the safe.
“The safe was too heavy and while they were struggling to load it onto their car the maid managed to untie herself and helped to untie my father.
“She escaped from the room through the window and ran for help. When the robbers saw the maid running, they fled and left the safe behind,” Tshatipamba told Namibian Sun.
It was reported that Mukwiilongo had suffered serious brain damage.
The suspects have been denied bail and the case was postponed to 31 May.
Mukwiilongo served as Omusati governor from 1993 until 1998.
Before that he was in exile during the liberation struggle from 1980 until he returned in 1989.
He is survived by five daughters and one son.
His wife predeceased him in 1997.
The former governor of Omusati Region, Leonard Nangolo Mukwiilongo, has succumbed to injuries after he was brutally attacked at his Elim residence in April this year.
Mukwiilongo died in a northern private hospital last night, his family confirmed to Namibian Sun. He was 92.
Mukwiilongo was tortured and assaulted by six robbers who demanded from him the keys to his safe.
His son, Tshatipamba, said the family was devastated, especially because of the manner his father died.
“No one deserves to die like that, and he was an old man who was supposed to die peacefully,” he said.
“He was a very strict disciplinarian who believed in what he stood for, be it politically or business-wise, and till his passing he refused to budge to unnecessary and evil approaches which took his life through armed robbery.”
Tshatipamba said the burden his father left behind would require a person of high calibre to carry on and as his only surviving son, he couldn’t even imagine filling his father’s shoes.
“I see heavy whirlwinds of change which he left me to face with heavy storms ahead,” he said.
Mukwiilongo was hospitalised over a month ago after he was attacked at his Elim residence and business place.
Six armed men had arrived at his house on 11 April at around 11:00 and found Mukwiilongo and a maid sitting outside. The robbers allegedly forced them inside the house where they demanded money.
They then allegedly blindfolded Mukwiilongo and the housekeeper and started demanding the safe keys, which he refused to hand over to them.
“They set fire to plastic bags and started torturing him. He was later hit in the head with a pistol,” Tshatipamba said at the time.
The robbers then locked Mukwiilongo and the maid inside the room and tried to flee with the safe.
“The safe was too heavy and while they were struggling to load it onto their car the maid managed to untie herself and helped to untie my father.
“She escaped from the room through the window and ran for help. When the robbers saw the maid running, they fled and left the safe behind,” Tshatipamba told Namibian Sun.
It was reported that Mukwiilongo had suffered serious brain damage.
The suspects have been denied bail and the case was postponed to 31 May.
Mukwiilongo served as Omusati governor from 1993 until 1998.
Before that he was in exile during the liberation struggle from 1980 until he returned in 1989.
He is survived by five daughters and one son.
His wife predeceased him in 1997.
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