Onambutu: President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah on Friday honored the late veteran liberation hero, Mathias Kanana Hishoono, as a pivotal figure in Namibia's history, marking his death as the end of a significant chapter for a generation that fought for the nation's freedom. She conveyed her tribute through Vice President Lucia Witbooi at Hishoono's memorial service, held at his home in Onambutu village, Ohangwena Region.

According to Namibia Press Agency, Hishoono, a prominent figure in Namibia's struggle for independence, passed away on January 14 and is being honored with a state funeral at the Eenhana National Shrine. President Nandi-Ndaitwah described the nation's loss as not only that of a dedicated son but a vital part of Namibia's journey to freedom, highlighting Hishoono's role as a founding member of the former liberation movement, Swapo.

President Nandi-Ndaitwah emphasized that Hishoono's generation embraced the struggle for freedom during a time when its attainment was uncertain and fraught with danger. She recalled his political awakening in the 1950s as a migrant laborer in South Africa, where he found inspiration from the late Andimba Toivo ya Toivo. Alongside the late founding President Sam Nujoma and other liberation leaders, Hishoono contributed to the formation of the Ovamboland People's Organisation, which laid the groundwork for Namibia's liberation movement.

President Nandi-Ndaitwah praised Hishoono as a dedicated mobilizer and an advocate for education, despite facing arrest, imprisonment, and torture under colonial rule. She noted that Hishoono remained committed to the vision of a free Namibia and continued his advocacy for economic emancipation in the post-independence era, recognizing that independence marked the beginning of a new phase in the struggle.