Speakers of the National Assembly, Peter Katjavivi has described the late Zedekia Ngavirue as a highly respected leader, a dignified Statesman and a diplomat of immense capacity, skills and wisdom who stood tall in all assignments.

Katjavivi in a media statement Thursday said Ngavirue was the first black Namibian social worker to graduate from a South African institution of higher learning in South Africa in the 1950s.

Ngavirue died in Windhoek on Thursday after a short illness. He was 88.

He said Ngavirue served as the first Director General of the National Planning Commission, an important assignment given to him to mobilise development partners in assisting the nation to address challenges of inequality inherited from the South African apartheid system. He was later assigned as ambassador to the European Union, Belgium, The Netherlands and Luxembourg which placed him in a key position to continue to build links with development partners.

“During those years, Dr Ngavirue became a spokesperson for the continent of Africa in advocating for a better deal within the Cotonou Agreement. Back home after 2003, he served on a number of boards including the National Council for Higher Education,” said Katjavivi.

He added that Ngavirue was appointed as Namibia’s Special Envoy on Genocide for the negotiations with the Federal Republic of Germany concerning the 1904-08 genocide and Namibia’s call for an apology and reparations from Germany. Here he pursued the negotiations from 2015 to 2021 and presented the draft agreement with Germany that is currently under discussion in Parliament.

“We extend sincere condolences to his second wife, children, grandchildren and the wider family, may his soul rest in eternal peace,” expressed Katjavivi.

President Hage Geingob Thursday also in a media statement said Ngavirue performed his mission with utmost diligence and the country owes him a debt of gratitude for his years of outstanding service.

Source: Namibia Press Agency