Kruger pays homage to tribal chiefs

By Risco Lumamezi

 SON of the former administrator and magistrate of the Eastern Caprivi Strip,Mr. Fred Kruger paid homage to tribal chiefs in Zambezi region recently.

A 71 year-old, Mr Fred Kruger handed over a book containing historical photographs taken by his late father Captain Cecil E.Kruger, to four traditional Authorities of Zambezi region.

In exclusive interview with Caprivi Vision,he said it was important to reflect on the past on how the Eastern Caprivi Strip developed from the time of immemorial. In his capacity as a biological son, now a native resident of South Africa residing in Mpumalanga province the former eastern Transvaal, was proud to come back to Caprivi with the book featuring old photographs taken by his father who was the magistrate at the time.

Most of the items published in the book were taken in 1940 – 46 when magistrate Kruger succeeded his predecessor Major Trollepe after the Second World War.

Magistrate Kruger worked closely with the two tribal chiefs of the Caprivi at the time, Chief Chikamatondo of the Masubia Tribe who died on 18 July 1945, and Chief Simasiku Mamili who also died on 22 June 1975.

The book of history was made possible with contributions from Mr Kruger and Ms Lieneke de Visser a PhD Researcher on African Conflict, who compiled the book.

He met several descendants’ of the late Chief Simasiku Mamili and Lawrence Nchindo a former policeman at the time who worked with the former magistrate.

According to him, “ when my father was here was administering the territory, it was not permitted for the white person to make business here.”

He was impressed about the town of Katima Mulilo , which has improved into a well developed area compared to the past when it was called a garrison town.

When asked on the political and social supremacy, Mr Kruger pointed out that although , political conflict is very rear in Africa but what is important is democracy.

“The reason is to present the book even though is very little , we must develop the story” Mr Kruger noted that the next project will be to write the article which describing the photographs .

The book was printed in Holland in the Netherland as part of the token to the respected traditional authorities in the region.

“It is very important to capture your history so that the present generation can be aware of the past of what has been learnt, and where we come from, the people they told me that the history book in schools for Namibia it has only a short section on the Caprivi that section must become a chapter” He stressed.

 Background

He was born on the 9th of March 1944 in Pretoria, he grew up in Namibia and South Africa , he went to the University in 1960 , and took a degree in Forestry Science and Forestry Research. In 1994 he took public policy in the new government of South Africa. He is an academia specialising in forest science and ecology.

He has four children two boys and two girls he raised, as all have completed their post graduate degrees.

“ My profile was formed here as a child, with experiences in Caprivi and Kavango where people taught me how to make bows and arrows and traps to catch birds and they told me what plants I must not disturb and I learnt important things”He furthers.

ENDS….