Popular Democratic Movement (PDM) leader McHenry Venaani says the late Ngarikutuke Tjiriange was a ‘political fox’ as he had an innate ability to work with Namibians across the spectrum to advance the nation’s agenda.
Unlike many of his peers and typical Namibian politicians who see their opponents in the political arena as enemies, Tjiriange looked beyond party colours, Venaani said.
The politician made these remarks during a memorial service at Parliament Gardens on Wednesday, held in honour of the liberation struggle icon and former Cabinet minister.
“We are here burying a Swapo man, Swapo right or Swapo wrong, he stood by Swapo. We are here today burying someone that I would refer to, quite respectfully, as Ngarikutuke Tjiriange, the ‘political fox’,” Venaani said.
He said Tjiriange had omnipotent wisdom and argued with eloquence.
“If you want to respect a politician and gauge his depth, watch him when he reasons on his feet, without a prepared speech, unprepared and you attack the position that he is holding, when he replies to you, you will know his depth. And Tjiriange was one of that rare breed of politicians who could think on their feet,” Venaani said in a sombre tone.
The mourners, Venaani said, must find solace in the words of William Shakespeare who once remarked, ‘Cry woe, destruction, ruin and decay: The worst is death, and death will have his day’.
Venaani noted that he has worked with Tjiriange during his two stints as secretary-general of the Democratic Turnhalle Alliance (DTA), the now rebranded PDM. Tjiriange was Swapo secretary-general at the time.
“We have lost a man who was able to reach out to others and to forge alliances in pursuit of a common goal…of late we were consulting on this genocide debate as he was a strong proponent of a respectable deal like myself,” he said.
Venaani then jumped to the novel coronavirus pandemic which has gripped the nation, urging Namibians to queue up for vaccination.
“We have been forced to endure so much that at times the weight has gotten too heavy to bear,” he said.
The 43-year-old also urged the media to desist sensationalising reporting on the COVID-19 vaccination as this could be the difference between life and death.
“Yesterday I was told that I told Namibians to go and use ivermectin. It can’t be true. I said a re-clinical trial should be done for us to arrive at that position,” he said.
Born Ehrenst Ngarikutuke on 12 July 1943, Tjiriange died on 23 June 2021, aged 77.
He will be buried at the national Heroes’ Acre on Thursday.
Source: Namibia Press Agency
