President Hage Geingob has described the late Immanuel Ngatjizeko as a gallant son and hero of Namibia whose final gift to the country will be his revolutionary ideas, actions, values and principles.
These according to the president, constitute the foundation of a long lasting legacy that will forever echo through the hallways of time.
Geingob was speaking at the funeral of the late Ngatjizeko who was laid to rest during a hero’s funeral, at Otjohorongo in the Erongo Region on Saturday.
“Comrade Ngatjizeko’s decision to give up his personal pursuits in favour of the struggle is aptly captured by the American Black Power activist Fred Hampton who said; ‘You have to understand that people have to pay a price for peace. If you dare to struggle, you dare to win’. He knew that in the system of apartheid, Namibians could never find peace and in order to attain that peace, one had to pay a price. To some, that price was giving up a job or on education, to others it meant leaving Namibia,” the president said.
He added that from the onset, the late Ngatjizeko demonstrated sound leadership skills and was elected to the Swapo executive committee of the Windhoek branch and shortly thereafter, to the Swapo national executive.
“Together with other committed patriots such as comrades Daniel Tjongarero, Niko Bessinger, Nathaniel Maxuilili, Solomon Gamatham and Hendrik Witbooi, among others, comrade Ngatjizeko worked tirelessly to mobilise Namibians from all over the country to join Swapo and the struggle for independence.”
According to the Head of State, the late Ngatjizeko leaves behind a body of commendable works, a legacy of struggle and sacrifice, a legacy of integrity and a legacy of love for country, Swapo Party, family and Namibia as a whole.
“Comrade Ngatjizeko during his entire life and until his last breath, believed in and toiled for a united Namibian House in which all Namibians live together in unity, liberty, peace and prosperity. He never wavered nor contradicted himself and he always remained steadfast,” he noted.
Ngatjizeko died in Windhoek on 05 March at 69 years of age.
He is survived by his wife Annalise, children and grandchildren.
Source: The Namibian Press Agency
