Titan laid to rest

It was a sombre day just south of the capital as historic statesman and liberation veteran Dr Theo-Ben Gurirab was laid to rest. Namibia has mourned Gurirab since his death on 14 July in a Windhoek hospital.He was 80.In his final speech at Heroes' Acre, President Hage Geingob said it is difficult to bid farewell to a talisman of Namibia and Africa. In a quiet voice Geingob said, “We are united in the truth that Comrade Theo-Ben was a diplomat of hope, a messenger of peace, and a torchbearer of a better Namibia. His life was a burning flame radiating light, guiding those who were caught in the dark tunnel of despair.“We are comforted. Comrade Theo-Ben, our gentleman diplomat did his part - more than his fair share. Effortlessly, he carried our weight on his shoulders. As a nation, we are now taking the final walk with this titan on his final journey towards eternal peace.”Founding Father Sam Nujoma, when he made his final bow to Gurirab's grave, whispered into the cold winter wind, “You have fought many fights and you have won them all.” Gurirab's classmate and political comrade Libertine Amathila smiled when she poured two handfuls of sand into her friend's grave as she bid him farewell. Gurirab was hailed a true patriot who had an urgent sense of unity fuelled by passion.“We thank him sincerely for his patriotism, audacity, intellect and hard work. It is our responsibility to preserve the memory of his life and extraordinary accomplishments,” said Geingob. Former Member of Parliament, Ben Amathila, remembered Gurirab as a man of peace and urged Namibians to put aside their differences and take the country forward. “We should take courage from his achievements and embrace them in making Namibia greater,” he said. The leader of the official opposition the Popular Democratic Movement (PDM) McHenry Venaani said in his tribute speech that Namibia is poorer as it has undisputedly lost an iconic statesman of rare versatility who espoused ideals and principles with passion, wit and eloquence. “We shall dreadfully miss a great quest on our barren land and its savannahs and deserts. Today we celebrate a life well lived. A life that was spent in service to Namibia. “We celebrate that Gurirab led by example and showed us undoubtedly that Namibia comes first - first before political affiliations, before tribe, before kith and kin,” said Venaani.JEMIMA BEUKES

Titan laid to rest

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Namibian Sun 2026-06-17

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Titan laid to rest

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Namibian Sun 2026-06-17

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