Kauluma was always there

The head of state, in his capacity as the president of Swapo, sent out a message of condolences to the family and loved ones of Shimweefeleni Peter Kauluma, and of course, the Aandonga people.

“I wish to express our sincere condolences and deep sympathy to his children and the bereaved family. Swapo lauds the contribution of this foremost stalwart to the conceptualisation, development and phenomenal growth of the party into a formidable popular political force.”

Dr Hage Geingob continued by saying: “Together with other giants of his generation such as Andimba Toivo Ya Toivo, Peter Mueshihange, Tobias Hainyeko, among others, he was one of the founding members of Ovamboland People’s Congress, in Cape Town in 1957, later transformed into Ovamboland People’s Organisation (OPO) and then into Swapo in 1960. He remained in Cape Town while some of his compatriots including Mueshingage and Hainyeko left for exile in the early 1960s, while Ya Toivo was deported to Namibia in 1958.”

Kauluma was deported to Namibia in 1969 and continued to agitate for Namibia’s freedom doing “underground work”, focusing primarily on the youth. He was arrested in 1976 and incarcerated without charges. He was accused of aiding guerrilla fighters of the People’s Liberation Army of Namibian (PLAN).

Said Geingob: “Although he was subjected to degrading and dehumanising torture at the hands of the enemy, the revolutionary spirit that coursed through his body, allowed him to resist all attempts to break his will.

“Comrade Kauluma was an important asset in the Swapo and PLAN underground network.”

Kauluma served the Ondonga traditional authority for 37 years with unquestioning loyalty and dignity.

“He possessed a natural acumen for dealing with traditional matters and this was extremely valuable for Omukwaniilwa comrade Elifas and the Ondonga community.”

STAFF REPORTER