Hanse-Himarwa’s last goodbye

… President Mbumba describes her as magnificant

Family, friends and former colleagues of Katrina Hanse-Himarwa paid their last respects at Mariental on Saturday.

Present at the funeral were president Nangolo Mbumba, vice president Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah and Namibia ambassador to the United States Margaret Mensah-Williams.

Her husband, Ghenno Himarwa, was among those paying tribute to the former minister of education, arts and culture.

“Your footprints are all over our farm Avril. I can see you in everything – here at our house at Mariental, our house in Windhoek and on our farm. How do I go further from here? “We had plans to raise a family. We put our blended children together and raised them with other children,” he said. Hanse-Himarwa (57) died from cancer at a hospital in Windhoek two weeks ago.

Himarwa paid tribute to the mother of their children and his wife. “I’m overwhelmed by grief, because I do not know where to go from here. The reality of losing someone you love and cared for so much and giving that person over to death, no poem, no movie and no book could convey how I feel.

“We wanted to spend the rest of our lives together on Avril. What will my life be without you?” Himarwa said. “We are so preoccupied with wanting to improve our farms, go for hunting, and do business to take care of our families . . . some of us men spend so much time with our friends, not with our families,” he said.

Hanse-Himarwa became the Mariental Rural constituency councillor in 2004 and Hardap governor in 2009.

In 2014, she was appointed as minister of education, arts and culture.

The former minister was convicted of corruption, after using her office for self-gratification in 2019.

“In sickness and in health we stood together. Your sickness took many days and years and we thank God almighty that there was strength to bear your sickness. You suffered.

“We witnessed your suffering. But we were not ready to let you go,” he said.

Meanwhile, president Nangolo Mbumba at the event described Hanse-Himarwa as a woman who lived her life “magnificently”.

Mbumba said she was dedicated to others and was a champion for justice, equity and unity. She was a model patriot and committed cadre, the president said.

He described her as a woman of substance, conviction, honour, faith, humour, warmth and compassion.

“Though the spark in your eyes is no more, you have left us with endless memories to continue shining your light brightly through the ages.

“Today, your brave soul rests in eternal peace. Thank you, my friend and young sister, for being in our lives. We were privileged to know you,” Mbumba said.

Hanse-Himarwa was laid to rest amid a six-volley salute during her official funeral, as conferred by the president last week.