Hompa Sitentu Mpasi is no more

Chief Daniel Sitentu Mpasi of the Ukwangali Traditional Authority in the Kavango West Region is no more. The 80-year-old chief died in the Nkurenkuru hospital yesterday morning after a long illness. Mpasi, who had been the Chief of the Ukwangali tribe since the late 1970s, had been in and out of hospital for the past few years. He was described as a great leader and his death as a loss not only to the Ukwangali tribe but to the entire Namibian nation. Acting Chief Kudumo Siwombe urged the Ukwangali tribe to remain calm as they mourn a great leader. “He was not only our leader. He was a national leader and his death is not only a loss to the family and to the Ukwangali tribe but to the entire Namibian nation,” Siwombe said. Messages of condolences started pouring in as soon as the death was announced. Chief Herman Iipumbu of Uukwambi, who is also the chairperson of the eight traditional authorities of Ovawambo, said the deceased chief was his relative and personal friend. Already yesterday Iipumbu was making preparations to travel to Kavango West to join the bereaved family. He said the Uukwambi Traditional Authority would only release a message of condolences once it was officially informed. Chief Oswin Mukulu of Ombalantu described Mpasi as a colleague whom he enjoyed working with. “Our condolences go to the bereaved family and the entire Kwangali tribe. Their loss is our loss,” Mukulu said. He said Mpasi was a great leader with a caring heart. The chairman of the Oukwanyama Traditional Authority, George Nelulu, said the entire Oukwanyama tribe is saddened by the death of Hompa Mpasi, whom he described as a friend of Oukwanyama who left an indelible mark on Namibian history. “His memory will never fade away,” he said. Nelulu said the Oukwanyama tribal authority was notified officially, and he was on his way to meet Queen Martha Nelumbu and her advisers yesterday to plan the queen’s journey to Kavango to go and “mourn her deceased brother”. Nelulu further said that he was sending a message to Oshikwanyama-speaking cattle farmers who have cattle posts in the Ukwangali tribal area to congregate at the deceased chief’s palace and mourn a great leader and friend. OSHAKATI PLACIDO HILUKILWA