Omangundu: Where it all started for Andimba

The late struggle icon Andimba Toivo Ya Toivo lived by the saying, 'never forget where you come from'. Namibian Sun visited Omangundu village in the Oshikoto Region where he was born 92 years ago. The community of Omangundu shared fond memories of the late freedom fighter, saying they will always remember him for the good deeds he did for the locals, including numerous donations and visits to Oshilungi Combined School. Omangundu senior headman Simon Nuule remembers Ya Toivo as a humble and peace-loving boy during his childhood. Pointing to the exact area where Ya Toivo was born, the 90-year-old Nuule said his parents later moved to Onayena where Ya Toivo completed his primary education. “Back then there were no hospitals and that's why he was born there (pointing towards a mahangu field studded with manketti trees). It was there where his parents stayed before they moved to that side of Onayena,” that Nuule said. He added that the local community was very proud of what Ya Toivo achieved. Nuule said it was because of Ya Toivo's efforts that the Oshilungi Combined School, which is a stone's throw from where he was born, has computers and books in its library and is a symbol of the struggle icon's special connection with the village. “If you go to that school, there are a lot of computers and it's the big man, Ya Toivo.” Principal Esther Nanyanga said Ya Toivo was the patron of the school and last visited them about two years ago. She said when Ya Toivo visited the school, or when he came with a donation, he would encourage the learners and community members to always value their culture. “He used to urge the young ones to stick to their culture, to respect the elders and always reminded them not to forget where they come from,” Nanyanga said. “He would tell the learners he was born in this village as a way of making them understand that a person's future is not determined by where they come from.” The anti-apartheid activist and one of the founders of Swapo died last Friday at his home in Windhoek. Hero of the peopleMeanwhile, tributes continue to pour in for Ya Toivo, with retired politician Dirk Mudge, former army chief Martin Shalli and former prime minister Nahas Angula remembering the great Ya Toivo. Mudge, the former chairman of the DTA, said he had made submissions to Pretoria for the release of Ya Toivo from Robben Island. In a telephonic interview, Mudge expressed regret over the border war. “He was captured in the north of Namibia. The war by the South African Defence Force in the north of Namibia and the south of Angola was a big mistake and caused a lot of trouble. Far too many people died unnecessarily in that war.” He recalled Ya Toivo as a respected opponent and later, a good friend. “I had a lot of respect and appreciation for him, both as an opponent and as a friend,” he said. Former military chief Shalli said Ya Toivo was a true warrior for freedom and peace. “Andimba believed in the power of his countrymen to resist oppression and ultimately sacrifice to bring about independence as echoed in his several famous statements, which I shall not repeat here. Those were his inspiring words and words will linger on for a very long time,” he said. Angula said Ya Toivo's personal commitment to the independence of Namibia is legendary. “He lost his job in Cape Town. He lost his business in Ondangwa. His adult life was spent in prison. But he never claimed glory or political power after Namibia's independence. His humanity and humility is extraordinary. His life is a celebration,” said Angula. Funeral arrangementsYa Toivo's remains will be flown to Ondangwa for a memorial service to be held at the Onguta Lutheran church this Friday. The Nelson Mandela Foundation has announced it will also host a memorial service in honour of Ya Toivo today in Johannesburg, South Africa.A state memorial service will be held next week Friday (23 June) followed by the burial at Heroes Acre Saturday.All flags will be flown at half-mast from Wednesday 21 June until Saturday, 24 June.Ya Toivo is survived by his wife, Vicki and twin daughters Mutaleni and Nashikoto. KENYA KAMBOWE

Omangundu: Where it all started for Andimba

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Namibian Sun 2025-09-10

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Omangundu: Where it all started for Andimba

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Namibian Sun 2025-09-10

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