Wife of Simbwaye gets a new house

By Simon Liseli

WIDOW of the Caprivian leader , late Brendan Kangongolo Simbwaye, Mrs. Getrude Namatama – Simbwaye (69) received her brandy new three ( 3) bedroom house from government last month.

Officiating the handover ceremony of the house and three tractors to other war veterans in the Caprivi Region was the Minister of Veterans Affairs, Dr. Nickey Iyambo who was mandated to ensure that all veterans are taken care through various programmes and projects such as housing and individual veterans projects.

He said, veterans of the liberation struggle have made invaluable contribution and commendable sacrifices during the liberation struggle. “We will always be indebted to them” he stressed.

“We will continue to show them our nation’s appreciation of what they did for Namibia to be what we are today; a free, peaceful and progressive Namibia, Their Blood Waters our Freedom”, quashed the Minister of Veterans.

He alluded that his Ministry is responsible for Veterans in the country and is in the process of constructing houses for eligible veterans in all 13 regions of Namibia.

The Minister added that this symbolizes the government`s commitment of integrating veterans of the national liberation struggle into socio-economic mainstream in achieving the goals of vision 2030 that will make Namibia an industrialized country.

Dr. Iyambo said his Ministry’s main purpose is to provide shelter and decent accommodation to homeless veterans as a token of appreciation for their contribution to the national liberation struggle of Namibia.

“History is part of our lives and there is no way we can run away from it, an artist writes ‘If you do not know where you are coming from, you will not know where you are going’ so it is very important to know our history especially that of the national liberation struggle,” he lamented.

Speaking during the hand over honorable Cletius Sipapela of Linyanti Constituency who represented the Caprivi Governor said “This house will remind us of the contribution made by the late comrade Brendan Simbwaye for the young and old people who are currently enjoying the fruits of our independence,” he noted.

He said the Caprivi Region is blessed with a lot of Agricultural potential and the three tractors that were given to other war veterans were an appreciation adventure that will boost the agricultural potential of the Caprivi Region, and he urged the beneficiaries of the very huge investment in the region to put them to good use in order to contribute to the agricultural economy in the country.

Honorable Sipapela also informed the gathering that the Caprivi Regional Council is currently looking the way to establish theHero’s memorial shrine in the region where heroes and heroines who contributed to the liberation struggle of the country will be remembered in the month of August.

“This memorial will allow us all old and young ones to remember our fallen heroes in our country once this establishment is constructed,” he said.

In Caprivi Region the Ministry has constructed a house for Mrs. Getrude Namatama Simbwaye as the first beneficiary.

The late Simbwaye sacrificed his life and made invaluable contribution during the liberation struggle of South West Africa. He was captured by the racist regime in 1964 while organizing Caprivi African National Union(CANU ) to merge with the Ovambo Peoples’s Organisation (OPO) which later after his death merged as South West Africa People’s Organisation (SWAPO).

According to history ,He returned back to Caprivi in 1972 where he disappeared and it’s on the basis of his contribution to the national liberation struggle of Namibia and suffering endured by his wife that the ministry has approved Mrs. Simbwaye as one of the housing beneficiaries in Caprivi.

“We salute the late Simbwaye as well as Mrs. Gertrude Simbwaye for their tireless effort until Namibia was liberated,” he said.

The Ministry has also called and approved some individual veterans projects and three tractor projects have been approved from Caprivi region, these tractors are aimed at increasing the production of agricultural activities and food in the region and the entire country .

Minister Iyambo urged all veterans who are going to receive houses and tractors for projects to properly take care of them and put a good maintenance to them.

“I would like to bring attention to all beneficiaries that they are expected to pay for the services given to them such as water, electricity, sewerages and maintenance, to the tractors if any, its their responsibility to maintain, repair and renovate the house and all other items in the house” said Iyambo.

Tractors beneficiaries were Mr. Victor Sioka, Mr. Chris Mwazi and Mr. Chrispin Mafwila, they all received keys of their brand new tractors from the Minister of Veterans Affairs and each tractor is valued an amount of N$200 000 with its Disc while Mrs. Simbwaye received keys for her brand new 3 bedroom house situated in old Ngweze location where the event was held.