Africa-Press – Namibia. THE recently renovated SWAPO Party district office at Okongo in the Ohangwena Region was on Saturday officially named after General (retired) Epaphras Denga Ndaitwah, Namibia’s First Gentleman.
General Ndaitwah, who was Namibia’s fourth Chief of the Defence Force, is a native of Ondobe but grew up at Okongo and was a PLAN field commander in the general area of Okongo during the armed liberation struggle.
General Ndaitwah retired in 2013 after about 40 years in uniform. He holds a
Master’s degree in Strategic Studies from the Ibadan University Nigeria, and after retiring from the military served as a part-time lecturer at the University of Namibia (UNAM) and as Head of Department and Senior Lecturer at the International University of Management (IUM).
He is a widely published author, with over 40 articles of which one was published in the African Armed Forces Journal. He is also the author of two political science books, both published and launched in 2007.
On Saturday, Ndaitwah was accompanied by the incumbent regional governor, Kadiva Hamutumwa, and former governor Sebastian Ndeitunga, among others.
He used the naming ceremony to also inaugurate WiFi connection, which is offered free of charge at the SWAPO facility.
Besides the free WiFi, services offered at the General Ndaitwah District office include a laptop and a printer, which are put at the disposal of members of the community, especially the youth.
Phillip Hikumwa, SWAPO district mobiliser and information officer, said that six young people were sent for training and are now available to assist others with the use of the laptop and the printer, training others in the process — at no cost.
Explaining the rationale behind offering free WiFi connection, Hikumwa said that due to the remote location of Okongo, young people in the area find it difficult to access news sources to keep themselves up to speed with local and international events, study and do their assignments, and look for opportunities that are offered online.
The Okongo SWAPO office was initially built in 1990, but the structure was later destroyed by a windstorm. It was rebuilt in 2002 and the then President Sam Nujoma inaugurated it in 2003.
The office was renovated recently, but the idea to name it after General Ndaitwah dates from 2016, said Hikumwa, who also said that there is a plan to construct a hall and that a fundraising drive is already ongoing.
A fundraiser held this weekend and attended by the First Gentleman and his entourage managed to collect N$36,000 in cash and pledges, as well as two head of cattle and two goats.
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