By: Kelvin Chiringa
The late long-time Swapo stalwart and former deputy Prime Minister, Marco Hausiku, is set to be buried this Saturday at the Heroes Acre after an emotional memorial service held at parliament gardens.
Hausiku died of a Covid-19 related illness, plunging his Swapo party and the nation into mourning.
President Hage Geingob, who could not be physically present at the funeral due to a housing hand-over in Walvis Bay’s Twaloloka, declared him a national hero.
His speech was thus read in absentia by Vice President Nangolo Mbumba.
“Somehow we anticipated that this is going to be a long memorial service. On Heroe’s Day, August the 26th 2021, I was profoundly saddened and shocked to receive the news of the death of Comrade Marco Hausiku, former deputy prime minister, a patriot supreme, a unifier, a man whose friendship and camaraderie I highly valued throughout our years working together in Swapo and the government.
“Namibia was plunged into mourning by the passing of Comrade Hausiku. Death leaves heartache; death leaves a heartache no one can heal. Love leaves a memory no one can steal. No one can heal the heartache we have felt in the sad news of the passing of our dear comrade, Hausiku,” he said.
Hausiku’s remains are expected to be interred by 08:30 in a short ceremony that will kick-off from 08:00 until 09:30.
Toini Ekandjo gave a moving eulogy on behalf of Hausiku’s widow.
“I would like to thank the President for declaring him a national hero and according him a hero’s funeral. I would like to thank the Rundu Hospital and the Lady Pohamba Hospital, for the love and care you showed to my husband.
“I thank you, the health practitioners for an amazing job you all did even though the will of God had to be done. Through you I learnt a lot, be it in politics, in farming, in Christianity, in family and you have taken me to places both locally and globally. I promise to uphold the ideals you had for your family, your nation, your government and your political party,” she eulogized.
Former Youth minister Jerry Ekandjo said Hausiku was a victim of detentions during his struggle years.
“Comrade Marko and others were released only to be rearrested several times and after that he was put under house arrest. Most of those who were released in the 80s were put under (house) arrest. They were held for two weeks at Osire. The current Osire which is a refugee camp, it was a detention camp,” he narrated.
Official opposition president, McHenry Venaani, said Hausiku was driven by a desire to see an independent Namibia.
He described the Swapo deputy secretary general as reserved and a man of few words.
He also characterised him as a man that could be critical without being abrasive as well as disagree without being confrontational.
“The Honourable Hausiku found a lifetime struggle; his involvement in the fight for the liberation of this great nation that gave him the fortitude, the clarity of purpose and the discipline to become a revolutionary and a valuable asset to this country.
“He was shaped by the tumultuous epoch, through which he lived, but it is truly his integrity, his willingness and readiness to serve his country and his shrewdness that characterised him and for which he shall be fondly remembered. His conviction informed not only his activism and his ideological outlook, but it also informed his character and his demeanour,” he said.
