Month: July 2024

Katrina Hanse-Himarwa, former Minister of Education, Arts and Culture, former Governor of the Hardap Region, and teacher to many, died on 14 July 2024 and was buried on 27 July, coinciding with her husband, Ghenno Himarwa’s birthday.

In the heart of Namibia’s Hardap Region lies Mariental, a town recently united to bid farewell to one of its most influential daughters, fondly known as ‘Hurricane Katrina’. Her final journey home served as a poignant reflection of her extraordinary life of 57 years, defined by service, leadership, and a profound connection to her community.

Hanse-Himarwa’s life story reads like an epic tale of perseverance and achievement – from her modest beginnings as a teacher while being a member of the South West Africa People’s Organisation, known as Swapo. In the years of 2004 to 20 March 2015 she became the first female governor of the Hardap Region followed by serving as Namibia’s Minister of Education, Arts and Culture until 09 July 2019, when she resigned after being convicted of co
rruption.

Many remembered her impact as profound and far-reaching. Her legacy extends beyond politics, resonating deeply with the lives she touched – teachers, students, colleagues and community members who all felt the reverberations of her dedication.

On Wednesday, 26 July when her body returned to her hometown Mariental from Windhoek, it cast a sombre shadow over Hardap, resonating with mourning hymns and tears freely shed across the humble town.

People gathered in solidarity to pay their respects as her mortal remains made their final journey home to Mariental.

For her daughter, Philaney Hanse, witnessing this outpouring of love and sorrow evoked a poignant mix of emotions, serving as a bittersweet reminder of her mother’s impact on the region as her mother’s body was transported to her grandmother’s house.

‘Seeing the multitude gather at her grandmother’s house and lining the streets of Mariental left an indelible impression on me,’ Hanse shared with Nampa.

On the day before the body arrived in Mar
iental, Vice President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah visited the Himarwa residence to pay her respects to the family in person.

On Friday, 26 July, the Mariental Municipality honoured her memory by renaming a street to Katrina Hanse-Himarwa. An event she had been aware of and consented to before her passing.

This ceremony, attended by many including Namibia’s Ambassador to the US, Margaret Mensah-Williams, who was one of her close friends, Deputy Minister of Urban and Rural Development Evelyn Nawases-Taeyele, Mariental Mayor Cherien Kock, Hardap Region Governor Salomon April, Mariental Urban Constituency councillor Johannes Esterhuizen, chairperson of the Hardap Regional Council Gershon Dausab, and her husband Ghenno Himarwa with the family, celebrated her transformative journey from educator to governor to minister. It was a journey marked not only by accomplishments but also resilience in the face of adversity, speakers remarked.

In his acceptance speech, husband Himarwa expressed gratitude to the Landless Peop
le’s Movement (LPM) and the Mariental Municipality stating emotionally: ‘My family and I want to thank the leaders in the Hardap Region of the Landless People’s Movement and the Mariental Municipality for ensuring my wife’s legacy will continue in Mariental.’

Mariental Deputy Mayor Andy Boois encouraged the community to uphold Hanse-Himarwa’s spirit of service by saying: ‘Let us pledge to carry forward her spirit of service in all our endeavours.’

Regional council chairperson Dausab emphasised the importance of recognising Hanse-Himarwa’s contributions.

‘It’s important that we acknowledge the late Katrina Hanse-Himarwa, as she played a significant role in the lives of the people of the Hardap Region,’ stated Dausab.

Mayor Kock affirmed the importance of Hanse-Himarwa’s contributions as such: ‘Her impact on our community is immeasurable.’

Nawases-Taeyele remarked: ‘Katrina was revered for her unwavering dedication to education, for the teachers she supported, and the communities she uplifted. She was not
only a leader but a trailblazer who paved the way for others to follow.’

At her funeral service, held on that Friday afternoon at Danie Joubert Combined School, tributes poured in from every corner of Namibia.

Mensah-Williams, speaking on behalf of friends and comrades, conveyed their collective gratitude for Hanse-Himarwa’s profound impact.

‘Katrina was more than a friend; she embodied resilience and unwavering support. Her ability to connect with people was unparalleled,’ said Mensah-Williams emotionally.

The burial took place on Saturday at the Mariental Town Cemetery, where former First Lady Monica Geingos, President Nangolo Mbumba, Nandi-Ndaitwah and many others were present.

In the end, Katrina Hanse-Himarwa’s journey home, marked by solemn tributes and heartfelt celebrations was more than a funeral; it was a testament to the profound impact of a life lived with purpose. As her husband eloquently put it, ‘Her legacy will endure in Mariental.’

How she was sent off was powerful and will always be a
bittersweet memory of the people from the Hardap Region.

Source: The Namibia News Agency

WINDHOEK: The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), together with the Embassy of Japan in Namibia on Monday donated sanitary pads worth over N.dollars 220 000 to girls in six regions of the country.

Minister of Education, Arts and Culture, Anna Nghipondoka shared her gratitude during the handing over ceremony at the Ministry of Health and Social Services (MoHSS) head office.

She said the donations, made possible by the UNFPA Namibia Country Office, with the generous financial support from the Japanese Supplementary Budget under the project ‘Leaving No One Behind’ stands as a commitment to tackling period poverty.

The donations consist of 24 000 packs of sanitary pads to benefit 6 000 vulnerable adolescent girls across the Khomas, Kunene, Omusati, Ohangwena, Zambezi and Erongo regions.

‘Period poverty, as many of us are aware, is not merely a matter of discomfort, but a barrier that can disrupt education, hinder participation in sports, and affect social engagement. For countless girls, it represents a s
ignificant obstacle to their right to education, health and dignity,’ Nghipondoka stated.

She described the contribution as a symbol of solidarity and powerful step towards ensuring that every girl has the opportunity to stay in school, perform well, and participate fully, in all aspects of life.

UNFPA Namibia Representative, Erika Goldson said restoring dignity and reshaping the future for women, girls, men and boys, while mitigating gender-based violence and negative sexual and reproductive health outcomes, have been instrumental in addressing key health challenges in Namibia.

Aside from the sanitary pads to the Education Ministry, the project also donated 67-bed screens on castors, eight ward screening gynaecological couches, six adult physician scales on beam balances, 15 cardiotocography (CTG) machines, three mobile ultrasound scanners with printers and accessories, and six Doppler foetal heart rate detector monitors with accessories to the MoHSS.

It further availed a Mobile Clinic Van to the One Eco
nomy Foundation as part of its commitment to enhancing the health and well-being of Namibians.

All donated items had a combined total value of N.dollars 3 million.

Source: The Namibia News Agency

Ten people are currently receiving medical attention after the vehicles in which they were traveling were involved in a side-swipe collision on the Etomba-Omundaungilo road at Oheti village on Friday.

Namibian Police Force Ohangwena Community Policing Sub-Division Warrant, Andrew Nghiyolwa told Nampa on Monday that the two vehicles, a Toyota Hilux 2.7 Double Cab and a Toyota Hilux 2.7 Single Cab side-swiped and both caught fire and burned to ashes.

‘It is alleged that the double cab while overtaking other vehicles, collided with the single cab which was turning off the road, to the right near the gate of the house,’ he said.

The single cab was loaded with fuel which ignited the fire in the process.

Nghiyolwa indicated that although there is no fatality recorded, about 10 people were injured of which four were seriously burned and taken to Eenhana District State Hospital.

He noted that the particulars of those involved in the accident and the motor vehicles are still to be obtained as they could not be ob
tained due to urgent medical treatment.

Police investigations into the matter continue.

Source: The Namibia News Agency

WINDHOEK: The Namibian Police Force (NamPol) in the Oshana Region arrested a 31-year-old man for reckless driving after he allegedly severely injured a pedestrian at Ongwediva Monday morning.

This was revealed in a crime report issued by NamPol Spokesperson, Deputy Commissioner Kauna Shikwambi, noting that the incident occurred around 00h20 on Monday at Opoto location at Ongwediva.

The driver is alleged to have driven a red saloon on a public road while intoxicated.

‘It is alleged that whilst overtaking another vehicle, the suspect bumped a pedestrian, a 41-year-old male who was crossing the road, and he sustained a broken right arm and head injury,’ said the report, further alleging that the suspect continued driving after the accident occurred.

Witnesses at the crime scene allegedly notified the police roadblock ahead, where the suspect was stopped and arrested.

The victim was transported to the Oshakati State Hospital for treatment.

In an unrelated incident, a six-year-old girl was allegedly raped by
her 17-year-old cousin at Eembidi village in the Ondobe Constituency of the Ohangwena Region.

The incident occurred around 17h00 on Friday and the suspect is yet to be arrested.

‘It is alleged that a 17-year-old boy and the victim are cousins and he threatened to beat her if she told anyone about the incident,’ the report added.

Police investigations continue.

Source: The Namibia News Agency