By Risco Lumamezi
The Katima Mulilo Town Council has expressed message of condolences for the late first former Katima Mayor, Mr.Gerhardus Jacobus Visagie, who passed away on August 28, 2020.
He served as the first DTA Katima Mulilo Mayor from 1992 – 1994, and he initiated early developments of the town after its proclamation as the local authority in the then Caprivi region during the post-independence of Namibia.
He died at the age of 92, three days before he could celebrate his 93rd birthday. He was born on 1 September 1928.
Katima Mayor, Hon. Charles Mukaya Matengu read a one page message of condolence where he described the late on Wednesday that “ the late Mayor before he became a Councillor and Mayor of the town , was operating Viswil Construction Company in the 1970’s until the late 1990s”
He constructed houses in the old locations of Ngweze and New Look, Government offices, parts of the then Caprivi General Hospital now Katima Mulilo State Hospital and some developments around Katima Mulilo today.
He was the owner of Zambezi Queen Cruise which is operating on the Zambezi River and lodges within the region.
During his final years, he lived with his late wife Alta Visagie who died on August 4, 2019.
They both lived at Kasika and Katima Mulilo until peaceful passing on first hour (12hrs) morning of 28 August.
“On behalf of my family, the Chief Executive Officer, Staff, Management, Council and the entire residents of Katima Mulilo in particular and the Zambezi region, we wish to extend our heartfelt condolences to the entire family as we await the burial arrangements”.
First SWAPO Katima Mayor Mr. Joel Mutonga who served from 1998 to 2001 also described the late as a brave man who never feared anybody.
However, Mr.Peter Visagie the close son of the late told Caprivi Vision that his father was born in South Africa and later lived in Southern Rhodesia now called Zimbabwe; he arrived in South West Africa and the Caprivi Strip in the early 1970s.
He constructed most of the government buildings before Namibia’s independence.
He left three children; two are based in South Africa and one (1) son who stayed with him till his death.
“He died of old age, no coronavirus, he was in quarantine as there was no body to meet him, no coughing” stressed his son, Peter Visagie.
His profession during his lifetime, late Mr.Visagie was the Civil Engineer.
He further thanked and appreciates messages of condolences from the general public.
His burial is slated for Friday, September 11, at the family business premises at Kasika, East of Zambezi region.
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