Nampol's fallen co-founder buried
The funeral of the late retired Commissioner Joseph Ekandjo was held over the weekend and thousands paid their final respects.
Thousands of mourners from all walks of life gathered at Ekolyanaambo village in the Oshana Region near Ongwediva over the weekend to pay their last respects to the late retired Commissioner Joseph Shuudifonya Ekandjo, 62.
Ekandjo was among the group of Plan combatants who were selected by Swapo in 1981 to undergo basic police training at Moshi and a senior officer's course in Dar es Salaam 1983 in Tanzania while in exile, with the aim to prepare them to establish the Namibian police once Namibia became independent, a task they fulfilled in 1990.
The government accorded the late Ekandjo with a police burial. His friends, family and former colleagues described him as a unifier, a man full of jokes and friendly personality. According to the police, they will remember him as a individual who dedicated his entire life to the military and to policing. He also cared for the well-being and social welfare of many.
The police's deputy inspector of operations, Major-General Des Shilunga read the force's message of condolences on behalf of the inspector-general, Lieutenant-General Sebastian Ndeitunga. Shilunga told mourners that he was also among the group that received police training together with the late Ekandjo in Tanzania in the early 1980s.
“The late retired Commissioner Ekandjo fulfilled his duties with vigor, determination and perseverance. His determination, devotion and zeal in the execution of his policing duties have earned him various recognitions,” Shilunga said.
He continued that Ekandjo was a promising and dynamic leader and his energy and enthusiasm for his work as a commander in the police force will be missed forever.
Shilunga said that he was appointed as an inspector in the force in 1990 and he was responsible for the integration of former Plan fighters into the police. In July of that same year he was promoted to the rank of chief inspector. He retired honourably from the police force in June 2015.
A eulogy read by another former Plan combatant Andrew Hashiyana, said Ekandjo was born at Oikango village near Ongwediva and grew up there. In 1977, together with his best friend Gideon Nuuyoma Amakali, he went into exile and joined Plan in Angola. He participated in the battles of Chippa and Calueque. Ekandjo was also known by his combat name Iikombo ya Pumako.
Ekandjo died on 16 September in Windhoek. The family reported that in July this year he started complaining of stomach ache and after he consulted his doctor in Oshakati he was referred to Onandjokwe District Hospital for further medical examination. At Onandjokwe he underwent an operation and was diagnosed with liver cancer. He was then transferred to Windhoek for further treatment. However, his condition deteriorated and he died on 16 September. He is survived by his wife Cornelia Pashukeni Ekandjo, mother Peneyambeko Muukenga Namashana, eight siblings, 23 children and 12 grandchildren.
During his long service to the police, most notable was his appointment to lead the police's operation in the then Caprivi Region after the failed coup attempt in August 1999. In July 2004 he headed the administration and logistics of the Special Field Force and from December 2005 until May 2010, Ekandjo was appointed as the first director of the SADC Police Component at the Planning Element of the SADC Standby Force, representing the SADC Region at the SADC Secretariat in Gaborone, Botswana.
Among those who attended his service and funeral was the deputy minister for safety and security Daniel Kashikola, deputy mines and energy minister Cornelia Shilunga, the governor of Oshana Clemens Kashuupulwa and the prosecutor-general Martha Imalwa.
ILENI NANDJATO
Ekandjo was among the group of Plan combatants who were selected by Swapo in 1981 to undergo basic police training at Moshi and a senior officer's course in Dar es Salaam 1983 in Tanzania while in exile, with the aim to prepare them to establish the Namibian police once Namibia became independent, a task they fulfilled in 1990.
The government accorded the late Ekandjo with a police burial. His friends, family and former colleagues described him as a unifier, a man full of jokes and friendly personality. According to the police, they will remember him as a individual who dedicated his entire life to the military and to policing. He also cared for the well-being and social welfare of many.
The police's deputy inspector of operations, Major-General Des Shilunga read the force's message of condolences on behalf of the inspector-general, Lieutenant-General Sebastian Ndeitunga. Shilunga told mourners that he was also among the group that received police training together with the late Ekandjo in Tanzania in the early 1980s.
“The late retired Commissioner Ekandjo fulfilled his duties with vigor, determination and perseverance. His determination, devotion and zeal in the execution of his policing duties have earned him various recognitions,” Shilunga said.
He continued that Ekandjo was a promising and dynamic leader and his energy and enthusiasm for his work as a commander in the police force will be missed forever.
Shilunga said that he was appointed as an inspector in the force in 1990 and he was responsible for the integration of former Plan fighters into the police. In July of that same year he was promoted to the rank of chief inspector. He retired honourably from the police force in June 2015.
A eulogy read by another former Plan combatant Andrew Hashiyana, said Ekandjo was born at Oikango village near Ongwediva and grew up there. In 1977, together with his best friend Gideon Nuuyoma Amakali, he went into exile and joined Plan in Angola. He participated in the battles of Chippa and Calueque. Ekandjo was also known by his combat name Iikombo ya Pumako.
Ekandjo died on 16 September in Windhoek. The family reported that in July this year he started complaining of stomach ache and after he consulted his doctor in Oshakati he was referred to Onandjokwe District Hospital for further medical examination. At Onandjokwe he underwent an operation and was diagnosed with liver cancer. He was then transferred to Windhoek for further treatment. However, his condition deteriorated and he died on 16 September. He is survived by his wife Cornelia Pashukeni Ekandjo, mother Peneyambeko Muukenga Namashana, eight siblings, 23 children and 12 grandchildren.
During his long service to the police, most notable was his appointment to lead the police's operation in the then Caprivi Region after the failed coup attempt in August 1999. In July 2004 he headed the administration and logistics of the Special Field Force and from December 2005 until May 2010, Ekandjo was appointed as the first director of the SADC Police Component at the Planning Element of the SADC Standby Force, representing the SADC Region at the SADC Secretariat in Gaborone, Botswana.
Among those who attended his service and funeral was the deputy minister for safety and security Daniel Kashikola, deputy mines and energy minister Cornelia Shilunga, the governor of Oshana Clemens Kashuupulwa and the prosecutor-general Martha Imalwa.
ILENI NANDJATO
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