Ya Toivo's final farewell

The country officially entered a four-day period of mourning yesterday ahead of Saturday's Heroes' Acre burial of struggle icon Andimba Toivo Ya Toivo.

Ya Toivo will be honoured with a state funeral, starting with a memorial service tomorrow at the Independence Stadium, which is expected to draw thousands.

Ya Toivo died on 9 June at the age of 92. Family spokesperson Helmut Angula said delegations from as far as Cuba, Zimbabwe, Angola and neighbouring South Africa, where Ya Toivo spent 16 years on Robben Island, are expected for the funeral. South African communications minister Ayanda Dlodlo will represent President Jacob Zuma at the funeral.

A number of events in honour and memory of Ya Toivo have already been held across the country.

A memorial service was hosted in Ondangwa last week, while Keetmanshoop and Rundu also honoured the legendary icon with remembrance events. In South Africa, the Nelson Mandela Foundation on Tuesday held a memorial service in Johannesburg to celebrate the life of Ya Toivo.

The Namibian was a close friend of the late South African struggle icon Nelson Mandela and the two spent many years together on Robben Island.

Ya Toivo's funeral is expected to a historic event and the City of Windhoek is providing bus services to mourners wishing to attend the occasion. Large marquee tents will be erected at the Independence Stadium where the memorial service will start tomorrow at 12:00. Namibian Sun understands total spending for the funeral service is about N$3 million, which the cabinet secretary has requested treasury to release.

In a letter directed to the finance permanent secretary, Ericah Shafudah, Simataa requested the N$3 million to be transferred to the Heroes' Acre bank account.

Of this amount, he wrote, N$600 000 will be used to “replenish the amount overdrawn on this account”.

“[The] organisation of the hero's funeral is a mammoth national event that does not come cheap,” Simataa justified the request yesterday.

He said the hosting of such events involves huge financial resources, both materially and logistically, covering refreshments, transport – both land and air – funeral services, broadcasting – both radio and television – as well as accommodation of local and sometimes international mourners, especially close family members of the deceased.

The hosting of this event is coordinated by a national preparatory committee composed of most permanent secretaries and other members from regional and local authorities and is chaired by the secretary to cabinet.

This national preparatory committee is also composed of sub-committees responsible for transport and logistics, safety and security, information, catering services and finances of which each has a budget which is submitted to the national committee for approval, Simataa said.

Simataa added the procurement of goods and services of heroes' funerals are conducted in line with the national procurement laws and policies.

He took issue over the fact that his letter to Shafudah was leaked to the media, saying it is internal government communications.

“Albeit obtained clandestinely, I would like to assure you that the principles of good governance apply to the management of these important national events, as is the case in all affairs of our government. The expenses of these events are audited every year by the auditor-general.

While I commend you for your misdirected curiosity in matters of national interest, I advise you may approach the Office of the Auditor General to obtain financial statements regarding monies spent on similar events in the past,” Simataa said.

Simataa did not respond to a question pertaining to the N$600 000 overdrawn on the Heroes' Acre account.



STAFF REPORTER/CATHERINE SASMAN