Lubowski murdered by comrades – widow

WINDHOEK ELVIS MURARANGANDA The widow of assassinated Swapo member Anton Lubowski says her husband was murdered because he refused to be bribed by some in the "incoming government" shortly after independence. On this day, 24 years ago, bullets fired from a passing vehicle hit Lubowski in front of his home in Klein Windhoek. Speaking from South Africa, Gabi Lubowski told Namibian Sun: "It is very clear that there is no political will, both in Namibia and South Africa, to find those who killed Anton. "Anton was not killed for political reasons. He was killed for economical reasons. There were those in the incoming government who were busy with shady deals and Anton refused to be part of it," said Mrs Lubowski. According to her, the late Luboskwi wanted the money from the resources which were under white control before independence to go to children, but some individuals "were bribed" to have it otherwise. "He could not be part of that and he had to be removed because he was in the way," she added. The widow, who is also an author, further said she hoped that someday someone would come forward with information about those who murdered her husband, but she felt that "those at the top will try everything to make sure that this does not happen". In 2006, during a sitting of the South African Truth and Reconciliation Commission, Lubowski's mother, Molly Lubowski, said: "He was raised in the spirit of opposition politics against apartheid." She added that her son received notes saying: "Anton now you'll know what hell on earth is, you'll know what it's like to walk down the street and to know that eyes are following you." "His wife and children were also warned that he had only hours to life. Pamphlets depicting his head full of bullet wounds were received in the post, other pamphlets showing his head covered in this most filthy language in Afrikaans were also received," his mother added. Swapo Secretary-General Nangolo Mbumba yesterday said the party hopes that "one day" those responsible for the assassination would be brought to book. "We do not know who committed this heinous crime. Up to now no one has been arrested or tried or charged. We will continue to look for more evidence of this crime," said Mbumba, a former minister of safety and security. "We hope one day the person or group of persons responsible will be charged." He added that Lubowski would have made a meaningful contribution to independent Namibia, especially in the areas of "justice, law and jurisprudence". "We continue to honour his energy and [the] contributions he has made to the liberation, unity and independence of this country," Mbumba said. The Namibian police were contacted for an update on their investigations into the Lubowski case, but did not provide information as promised. NamRights Executive Director Phil ya Nangoloh said Lubowski was a courageous individual. "As a young lawyer, Anton took a courageous step in the early eighties when he openly declared his support for Swapo, then the largest liberation force, with the view of taking part in liberating Namibia from colonial domination," he said. Ya Nangoloh however bemoaned the fact the killers of the late Swapo activist have not been apprehended 24 years after their heinous act. "The perpetrators of this dastardly deed have yet to be apprehended let alone to known," the human rights activist said, adding that there are plans to establish the Anton Lubowski Educational Trust, which is partly meant to maintain his legacy.