Chief Mpasi dies

THE leader of the Ukwangali Traditional Authority in the Kavango West region, Chief Sitentu Mpasi, has died at the age of 80.

The nephew of the late Ukwangali leader, Eugene Kakukuru, confirmed the death to Nampa yesterday morning, saying Chief Mpasi passed away at around 06h30 at the Nkurenkuru Mission Hospital.

He had been struggling with ill-health for many years, and was in and out of hospital recently.

Mpasi leaves behind his wife, seven children and several grandchildren.

The former chairperson of the Ukwangali Traditional Authority’s Chiefs’ Council, Joseph Kandjimi, said the body of the late chief will be transported to the Rundu Private Hospital.

Born on 7 June 1934, Mpasi had been the leader of the Ukwangali Traditional Authority since 1980 after taking over from his cousin, the late chief Joseph Kandjimi, who died in 1979.

The Swapo Party coordinator Kavango West, David Hamutenya, told Nampa that the chief’s death is a great loss not only to the ruling party, but “to the country as a whole as he was a hero and a freedom fighter who actively participated in the country’s fight for independence”.

Hamutenya said the late Ukwangali leader will be remembered for the immense role he played before independence when he mobilised his subjects to support the Swapo liberation movement.

“It is really a big loss. Chief Mpasi has also done a lot to uplift the living standards of his people,” the coordinator noted. Funeral arrangements for the late chief will be announced in due course. – Nampa