Windhoek:Former President Hifikepunye Pohamba has remembered his late wife, Penehupifo Pohamba, as a woman of strong character, compassion, and unwavering commitment to public service. Her passing has left an irreplaceable void in their family.

According to NAMPA, Penehupifo Pohamba, a dedicated healthcare advocate, passed away at a Windhoek hospital on 17 October at the age of 78, after more than 40 years of marriage. At a memorial service held at the Parliament Gardens, Ambassador Tuliameni Kalomoh read a tribute on behalf of Hifikepunye Pohamba, highlighting their life together, influenced by the liberation struggle and public service.

Pohamba described his wife as a remarkable woman who held their family together with strong discipline and guided them without judgment. She instilled values of hard work, honesty, and integrity in their three children. He reflected on how he came to know her better in 1982 while visiting Namibians in exile at a refugee camp in Angola, leading to their marriage in Luanda on 17 August 1983.

During Hifikepunye Pohamba's presidency, beginning in 2005, Penehupifo used her nursing experience to support initiatives focused on maternal and child health, women's welfare, and those affected by HIV/AIDS. Between 2006 and 2008, she worked as an unpaid nurse at the Robert Mugabe Clinic in Windhoek, despite her role as First Lady.

Pohamba emphasized her humility, stating that she resisted celebrity status and preferred to be seen as a daughter, wife, mother, and friend. The tributes received since her passing have helped the family appreciate the significant impact she had on others' lives. He urged their children and grandchildren to remain united in their grief.

Penehupifo Pohamba will be laid to rest at her home village of Okanghudi in the Ohangwena Region on 31 October 2026.