Shixwameni family pay tribute to his legacy

The family of the late Ignatius Shixwameni, a politician who collapsed and died in parliament last year, commemorated his life last week at the Parliament Gardens in Windhoek.Louise Shixwameni, his wife, in a tribute to her late husband, said: "He lived a life worth emulating, he sacrificed a lot, suffered for standing to his principles till his last breath; he served his country selflessly with honour and dignity."She said he used to tell her: "I will never sacrifice my principles, even if I will be the only one standing up for them in the world."Shixwameni died last year after he collapsed in the parliament.Louise said her late husband didn&#039;t live "because he could breathe but because he was embodied by love."PreventableAn autopsy showed that the cause of death was a coronary thrombosis.The All People&#039;s Party (APP) leader was 55 at the time.Shixwameni&#039;s wife said if people had acted fast enough, he might still be alive."I read that a person having a coronary thrombosis attack can be saved if people act within the first five to 15 minutes.“The day Ignatius collapsed, not a single MP was trained in CPR, and the ambulance took 40 minutes to come.”Honourable legacyShixwameni announced the start of the Ignatius Shixwameni Life Saving and Education Foundation following her husband&#039;s passing.She says this will help his family and friends preserve his legacy and keep his passion for education alive."The foundation will be launched in the next few months. Standing on Shixwameni principles, I believe we should stand with the poor at all times but at the same time, we should help our leaders to do the right things."She added: "I want to thank parliament for accelerating the opening of its clinic this year after our cries. Hopefully, this clinic can be named after Shixwameni."The family remembers Shixwameni as selfless to the core, humble, caring, and focused on the idea of just and better living standards for all Namibians.They add that he gave away almost 70% of his salary and that the family had to share food with those less fortunate.Long road aheadShixwameni said being a widow is difficult, and she wants to help change that."It is not easy to be a widow. It&#039;s a lonely journey. Our society has a harsh way of judging and treating widows."I want us to support widows; they need support, understanding, and even counseling."She also said that in 2023, she will create the "Widows Foundation" to protect and restore the dignity of widows from discriminatory practices and abuse.

Shixwameni family pay tribute to his legacy

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Namibian Sun 2025-07-14

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Shixwameni family pay tribute to his legacy

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Namibian Sun 2025-07-14

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