Written by Patience Nyangove
Thursday, 25 February 2010
PRESIDENT Hifikepunye Pohamba was allegedly humiliated at the funeral of the late Namibia Broadcasting Corporation (NBC) board chairman and Swapo Member of Parliament Ponhele ya France when he was denied the opportunity to address mourners and his presence never acknowledged at the funeral.
According to sources who attended the burial of Ya France the event allegedly turned into a Rally for Democracy and Progress (RDP) party funeral.
The source said Ya France’s nephew Hafeni Nghinamwaami who was number 53 on the RDP’s Parliamentary list and also Master of Ceremony at the burial never acknowledged Pohamba’s presence.
“The organisation of the funeral was taken over by the RDP and we are told that Ya France’s nephew who is an RDP member was the MC at the burial. He never gave the President who was prepared to give a speech the opportunity to do so. The President became hugely embarrassed that if his office knew that the funeral had been turned into an RDP event why didn’t they advise him,” the source said.
Nghinamwaami, when contacted for comment, said Pohamba never approached and asked him for an opportunity to give a speech.
“I received the President twice first on Wednesday and at the funeral. He never asked to give a speech. He did not even bring flowers to place at the grave side and I had to give him. These Swapo people must not try to politicise these issues. This is rubbish. I am sure they are crying foul but why after the way they treated Ya France. If the President was embarrassed he must say so not (through) some bush agencies,” Nghinamwaami said.
He refused to comment on whether Ya France was still a Swapo member when he died or had shifted goal posts.
“Whether he was still a member of Swapo or not, I will not answer. It’s between me and the deceased.”
Minister of Presidential Affairs, Dr Albert Kawana refused to comment on the issue saying he did not attend the funeral and so he wasn’t aware of the incident.
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