Tujoromajo Kasuto
The Namibian Presidency has announced that President Hage Geingob will attend the burial of late Ignatius Shixwameni on Saturday in Rundu, in the Kavango-East Region.
The 55-year-old Shixwameni died on the 10th of November this year after collapsING at Parliament while attending a standing committee meeting. Last week Geingob conferred a state funeral for the late President of the All People’s Party (APP). Shixwameni served in different political leadership roles including as Swapo Party Member of Parliament from 1995-1999; Deputy Minister of Information and Broadcasting between 1997 and 1999, and Swapo Party Youth League Leader between 1987 and 1999.
In addition he served as the first Chairperson of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defense and Security. He is the founding member and 3rd President of the Namibia National Students Organisation (Nanso). It was founded on 4 July, 1984, at the Roman Catholic Church’school 25 kilometres north outside Windhoek, Döbra, also known as St Joseph School.
As a student activist, Shixwameni led protests against invidious practices in the education fraternity, namely opposing discriminatory Bantu education system that disadvantaged Namibian learners compared to their counterparts.
Nanso on Monday held a remembrance for the late comrade to bid farewell and pay their last respects. The night of tribute was filled with storytelling and revolutionary songs from its executive committee and veterans of the 1980s-1990s. The leaders described the comrade as an activist of note, a trailblazing student leader, and a true son of the soil who pioneered education towards social progress and laid a foundation for accessible education in their lifetime.
Shixwameni is survived by his wife and six children.
