Former education minister Katrina Hanse-Himarwa has been described by fellow politicians and Swapo members as a daughter of the soil, whose contribution to the education sector would leave a lasting legacy.
The former minister (57) was taken to a local hospital in Windhoek a week ago with colon cancer, and died yesterday.
“Her unwavering strength, compassion, and the joy she brought us will forever be remembered,” her husband, Ghenno Himarwa, said yesterday after announcing her death.
“… leaving behind a legacy of love, kindness, and cherished memories that we will hold dear forever,” he said.
During her tenure as minister, Hanse-Himwarwa earned the nickname ‘Hurricane Katrina’, which she would later recall at the time of former president Hage Geingob’s memorial service in February.
“We all would laugh because president Geingob would say ‘Hurricane Katrina’ has arrived. But he would not allow others to call me ‘Hurricane’. He would say in his particular voice: ‘Only I can call her ‘Hurricane’, but to you she is my minister of education,arts and culture,” Hanse-Himarwa said from her hospital bed at the time.
In his message of condolence, president Nangolo Mbumba yesterday expressed profound shock and sadness.
Mbumba described Hanse-Himarwa as a leading educationalist and staunch freedom fighter.
“The passing of honourable Hanse-Himarwa robs our nation of a patriot who fought courageously for the birth of an independent nation in which the Namibian child could gain access to education and pursue his or her dreams,” he said.
“Undoubtedly, the Namibian pupil and the nation at large has benefited immensely from her contributions as a teacher and head teacher, including her educational reforms during her tenure of service as minister of education,” Mbumba said.
Swapo secretary general Sophia Shaningwa yesterday described Hanse-Himarwa as a daughter of the soil, a fearless freedom fighter, and an accomplished servant.
“Comrade Hanse-Himwarwa joined Swapo during the most difficult time under the mentorship of the late kaptein Hendrik Witbooi . . .
“When the young, fearless sons and daughters of our motherland united under the banner of the Namibia National Students Organisation (Nanso) and Swapo to oppose apartheid and colonialism, comrade Hanse-Himarwa were among the Nanso pioneers who organised anti-apartheid protests and served as a voice for all students standing against foreign occupation, colonial oppression and exploitation,” she said.
Shaningwa said Hanse-Himarwa served her community and the nation with “a majestic purpose”.
“Throughout her deployment at various levels in the government and Swapo, Hanse-Himarwa served with the utmost dedication and commitment,” the secretary general said.
At the time of her death, Hanse-Himarwa was a member of Swapo’s politburo and central committee.
She was the minister of education, arts and culture from 2015 to 2019.
Swapo Party Youth League secretary Ephraim Nekongo yesterday described Hanse-Himarwa as a beacon of strength, dedication and unwavering commitment to the ideals and values of the party.
“Appointed to the politburo by our late Swapo president in 2022, she carried forward the torch of leadership with exceptional grace and tenacity,” he said.
Nekongo described the former minister as an educator, grooming Swapo members into future leaders, “sharing her wisdom and providing guidance with a nurturing and encouraging spirit”.
Popular Democratic Movement chief whip Elma Dienda said Hanse-Himarwa was a “no-nonsense, straightforward” person.
“What you see is what you get. She was also someone who gave credit where it was due,” she said.
Dienda said Hanse-Himarwa left behind a legacy to always believe in oneself and to always put one’s country first.
Former Swanu of Namibia president and member of parliament Usutuaije Maamberua described her departure as an enormous loss of a “gallant daughter” of the Namibian soil, especially to the Swapo party and the descendants of the victims of the Ovaherero-Nama genocide.
“What stands out from her legacy is gallantry and forward-looking leadership, especially on development and the attainment of the aspirations of the descendants of the genocide,” he said.
She deserves a hero’s funeral, Maamberua said.
PDM president McHenry Venaani yesterday said the contributions of the former minister to the nation, as well as her accomplishments in leadership and public service, would not be forgotten.
“May Ms Hanse-Himarwa’s legacy live on through the memories shared and the lives she postively impacted. May she rest in eternal peace,” he said.
After winning the Mariental Rural constituency in the 2004 local elections for Swapo, Hanse-Himarwa was appointed Hardap governor, a position she held until 2015.
She was one of the eight presidential appointees to the sixth National Assembly of Namibia to become a non-voting member.
In July 2019 Hanse-Himarwa was found guilty of corruption for using her office for self-gratification.
A day after the verdict on 9 July 2019, she resigned from her position as minister of education.
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