Africa-Press – Namibia. CLOSE to 600 mourners from Namibia, South Africa and Botswana gathered at the Otjiuapehuri village recently, paying their last respects to the late Chief Tjitana Kavei of the Ovaherero Traditional Authority in Gam who passed away last month. Reflecting on his uncle’s life, stretching beyond the borders of Namibia, Dr. Gurvy Kavei said the late chief left behind unfinished business.
“His dream was to see the Ovaherero restored to their ancestral lands in their motherland. This dream he derived from his experience in Botswana and he was determined to realise it. We shall miss him badly, especially his undying, unifying love that made all children in the extended family feel like his own.”
The late Chief Tjitana Kavei, a descendent of the victims of the German genocide, was born in Botswana. In 1964, he alongside other Ovaherero youths attempted to skip the country to join in Swapo’s freedom fight for Namibia. They were captured in then Rhodesia (Zimbabwe), by the Ian Smith regime and returned to Botswana.
In 1979, Kavei and other revolutionaries attempted to bring cattle into Namibia. They were blocked at the border by the South African regime in Namibia and sent back to Botswana.
They staged successful repatriation of cattle into Namibia in 1982, with some cattle used in sacrifice. Thirteen of the ring leaders were arrested and held in a prison camp known as Swalani, close to Okakarara.
They were later released and allowed to settle in Gam of which Kavei became the first commissioner, until Namibia’s independence. He became the second Ovaherero chief at Gam after succeeding Chief Kandjanatozombua Tjiho, and held this position until his death. Chief Kavei was buried at Otjozondema village.
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