Final farewell to chief Daniel Shooya

Family members, friends, dignitaries and mourners gathered in numbers to pay their last respects to the late chief Daniel Shooya of the Uukolonkadhi Traditional Authority at Onesi last Saturday.

The official funeral was preceded by a memorial service last Friday, during which various speakers delivered messages on behalf of the family and paid tribute to Shooya.

The long-serving leader of the western-most Owambo community had been frail and bed-ridden in recent months and died at his home on 31 October – a few days after he was discharged from hospital – at the age of 97.

A contingent of Namibian Defence Force (NDF) soldiers marched into the cemetery to the beat of the NDF band.

Mourners waited in silence until the arrival of the casket, which was followed by the singing of the national and African Union anthems and a prayer and scripture reading by bishop Gideon Niitenge.

Flagbearers of the NDF carried the white casket to the grave site and removed the flag before the casket was lowered, concurrently with six volleys of rifle fire.

Trumpeters of the NDF and the Namibian Police then played ‘The Last Post’ and the ‘Reveille’ – which is customary at official state funerals.

Niitenge performed the rite of committal and the blessing of the body before the grave was covered.

This was followed by the laying of four wreaths by Selma Shooya, Shooya’s widow, Omusati governor Erginus Endjala, chief Herman Iipumbu of the Uukwambi Traditional Authority and the chairperson of the eight northern traditional authority, and NDF chief air marshall Martin Pinehas.

The programme concluded with a vote of thanks by former minister of mines and energy Isak Katali, announcements, the singing of a hymn, the benediction by Niitenge, and the singing of the anthems.

Shooya is survived by Selma and 10 children and grandchildren.