Iilonga to be buried in Heroes' Acre
President Hage Geingob has accorded liberation veteran, politician and unionist Petrus Iilonga a state funeral.
In a media statement, the presidency announced that Iilonga would be buried at Heroes' Acre on Saturday, following consultations with his family. A memorial service will be held in the Parliament Gardens on Friday at 14:00. The president has also directed that a period of national mourning be observed during which all flags in Namibia will be flown at half-mast from tomorrow until the funeral on Saturday.
“During this period of national grief, President Geingob applauds an outstanding Namibian, the late Comrade Petrus Nangolo Iilonga for his bravery, exceptional contributions to the liberation of Namibia, and steadfast service to the people of Namibia after independence in several capacities, including as trade unionist, member of parliament and deputy minister,” the presidency said.
Iilonga, who died last Tuesday at the age of 71, was a former trade unionist and political prisoner on Robben Island, where he was incarcerated for seven years from 1978 to 1985.
He served as a deputy minister in many ministries after independence and was awarded the Ongulumbashe Medal for bravery and long service in 1996. Between 2000 and 2005 he served as deputy environment minister and went on to serve as deputy labour minister from 2005 to 2010.
In 2012 he was appointed deputy minister of defence, a position he held until 2015.
JEMIMA BEUKES
In a media statement, the presidency announced that Iilonga would be buried at Heroes' Acre on Saturday, following consultations with his family. A memorial service will be held in the Parliament Gardens on Friday at 14:00. The president has also directed that a period of national mourning be observed during which all flags in Namibia will be flown at half-mast from tomorrow until the funeral on Saturday.
“During this period of national grief, President Geingob applauds an outstanding Namibian, the late Comrade Petrus Nangolo Iilonga for his bravery, exceptional contributions to the liberation of Namibia, and steadfast service to the people of Namibia after independence in several capacities, including as trade unionist, member of parliament and deputy minister,” the presidency said.
Iilonga, who died last Tuesday at the age of 71, was a former trade unionist and political prisoner on Robben Island, where he was incarcerated for seven years from 1978 to 1985.
He served as a deputy minister in many ministries after independence and was awarded the Ongulumbashe Medal for bravery and long service in 1996. Between 2000 and 2005 he served as deputy environment minister and went on to serve as deputy labour minister from 2005 to 2010.
In 2012 he was appointed deputy minister of defence, a position he held until 2015.
JEMIMA BEUKES
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