Africa-Press – Namibia. Hundreds of Ovambanderu and other sympathisers are expected to descend on Okahandja this weekend to bid farewell to their revered leader, Gerson Kunomundu Katjirua.
Katjirua, who was an Ovambanderu traditional authority’s senior councillor, died on 27 April and will be buried on Sunday.
The burial ceremony will be the last in a line of rites and rituals that have taken place over the past week. The departed leader’s body was taken to the Epukiro constituency, making brief stopovers in Gobabis and Omauezonyanda to allow members of the public to pay their last respects.
At various commandos across the country, the Ovambanderu halted typical daily activities to reflect on the memory of their revered leader.
President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah last week said Katjirua devoted his life to the development of his community and preserved the Ovambanderu culture and traditions, adding that his loss is not only to the Ovambanderu but the entire nation.
Katjirua, revered for his wisdom in handling complex matters with ease, was the acting chief of the community between 2010 and 2017. He took over the reins following the passing of the then-acting chief Pieter Kati Nguvauva, who died in 2010.
The Ovambanderu Traditional Authority’s General Field Marshal Josua Muundjua told New Era that the late senior traditional councillor’s name was synonymous with the nation of the Ovambanderu.
“He was a versatile person who witnessed many things within the community, and he was a history book of this community,” Muundjua said.
The General Field Marshal further said Katjirua was a good listener and a good problem-solver. Muundjua acknowledged the late senior councillor for taking care of the Ovambanderu after the passing of acting chief Pieter Kati Nguvauva and chief Kilus Nguvauva.
Tjoponi Katjiuanjo, one of the senior residents of Epukiro, said he will remember Katjirua for the role he played in the establishment of permits in the Epukiro constituency.
“It was he and the late Chief Munjuku Nguvauva II who spearheaded the idea, and other Ovambanderu and Ovaherero settlements followed as people were only selling at auctions.
Katjiuanjo added that the late senior councillor was wise and identified many grazing areas for livestock in the constituency.
Katjiuanjo further recalled the letter that was written to the then-South African administration by the Ovambanderu councillors in Epukiro, who were not happy with the Okahandja administration under the Ovaherero leadership, which sidelined Ovambanderu.
“He drafted the letter with Benjamin Murangi, Manuel Ueriruka Ngaruka, Usiel Kavari, John Muundjua, and Katiti Mbaeva (all late). These late councillors also welcomed the assistance from Germany’s Tucsin group to develop the Ovambanderu,” he said.
Otjimanangombe-based Ovambanderu Commandant Uazumba Kaunatjike described the late Katjirua as a true leader who sacrificed for his community.
“We heard about his contributions and came to witness his work myself. It is a big loss to the community, and we will always remember him,” Kaunatjike.
The commandant added that Katjirua was a man of his word and never hid the truth from his community.
On Wednesday, Katjirua’s remains were taken to the Omaheke region at his farm Berma in Okorukambe constituency. En route to his farm, Ovambanderu, in several places such as Witvlei, Gobabis, Drimiopsis, Okamujenda, and Epukiro gathered to pay homage to the fallen senior traditional councillor.
While in Epukiro, his body was also taken to Ovambanderu’s headquarters, better known as Omimbonde Vitano and to the Church of Africa.
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