Man sues siblings for ‘Swaponising’ mother’s funeral
A man has roped in the services of lawyer Kadhila Amoomo to demand a public apology from his two siblings who allegedly altered the programme of their mother’s funeral service to bring in speakers who were dressed in Swapo regalia and chanted party slogans at the solemn event.
Liberation struggle veteran Selma Titus was laid to rest in her home village of Omundaungilo a month ago, and the perceived politisation of the service divided her children. Her son Erastus Haihambo took to task his siblings Victoria and Efraim Haihambo as well as two other people - Fransina Kashikola and Immanuel Kakololo - for allegedly infusing Swapo themes into the event.
In a letter by his lawyer, Erastus accused the quartet of ‘fraudulently’ altering the programme to result in the display of Swapo political agendas, adverse to the purport of the occasion.
He argued that the approved speaker Kashikola, assigned to deliver a tribute on behalf of the veterans of the liberation struggle, unilaterally passed on such duty to Kakololo, who was dressed in full Swapo regalia and delivered a politically-fuelled speech.
He further blamed the Swapo district office of Omundaungilo, who reportedly met with Kakololo and agreed to alter his speech.
Apologise and pay up
According to Erastus, another approved speaker was George Nambinga, who was assigned to deliver a tribute on behalf of the veterans of the liberation struggle, but deviated from his mandate and delivered a politically-fuelled speech – marked by sloganeering, chants and political songs.
He demanded that Efraim and Victoria deliver a public apology through the NBC Oshiwambo radio station to the Haihambo family for their role in fraudulently altering the memorial service programme, which led to the family’s reputation being damaged.
Kakololo and Kashikola have also been requested to deliver a public apology for their role in 'deceptively' using their allocated programme slot to - among other things - campaign for Swapo, which included Kakololo dressing in Swapo regalia.
“The Swapo district office of Omundaungilo must deliver a public apology to the Haihambo family and the mourners for their role in facilitating the speech delivered under Swapo. Nambinga must apologise and pay N$200 000 for his role in deviating from his role as a speaker, turning to sloganeering, chanting and political campaigning, thereby prejudicing attendees,” the letter read.
Not about politics
When approached by Namibian Sun, one of those asked to apologise, Kakololo, declined to comment.
Erastus yesterday reiterated what he said in the letter, adding: “I solemnly need the absurd and uncivilised practice of ‘viva, viva’, dancing, chanting, fist-waving, salutes and inconsiderate political songs - which serve to dishonour the supposedly inviolable last moments of a family paying their last respects to their loved one - to come to an end.”
He is said to be a die-hard supporter of the Rally for Democracy and Progress (RDP), but initially refused to comment on the matter, and on whether his reaction was rooted in his association with an opposition party that once gave Swapo a run for its money.
Late yesterday afternoon, he told Namibian Sun that it is not about his political affiliation, but rather about his siblings respecting their mother’s memory. “Wherever you go, families are politically diverse. I do not at this time belong to any political party, but, honestly, that is immaterial when dealing with the death of your mother.”
He added that he is willing to take on this fight and preach his message to the entire country.
Liberation struggle veteran Selma Titus was laid to rest in her home village of Omundaungilo a month ago, and the perceived politisation of the service divided her children. Her son Erastus Haihambo took to task his siblings Victoria and Efraim Haihambo as well as two other people - Fransina Kashikola and Immanuel Kakololo - for allegedly infusing Swapo themes into the event.
In a letter by his lawyer, Erastus accused the quartet of ‘fraudulently’ altering the programme to result in the display of Swapo political agendas, adverse to the purport of the occasion.
He argued that the approved speaker Kashikola, assigned to deliver a tribute on behalf of the veterans of the liberation struggle, unilaterally passed on such duty to Kakololo, who was dressed in full Swapo regalia and delivered a politically-fuelled speech.
He further blamed the Swapo district office of Omundaungilo, who reportedly met with Kakololo and agreed to alter his speech.
Apologise and pay up
According to Erastus, another approved speaker was George Nambinga, who was assigned to deliver a tribute on behalf of the veterans of the liberation struggle, but deviated from his mandate and delivered a politically-fuelled speech – marked by sloganeering, chants and political songs.
He demanded that Efraim and Victoria deliver a public apology through the NBC Oshiwambo radio station to the Haihambo family for their role in fraudulently altering the memorial service programme, which led to the family’s reputation being damaged.
Kakololo and Kashikola have also been requested to deliver a public apology for their role in 'deceptively' using their allocated programme slot to - among other things - campaign for Swapo, which included Kakololo dressing in Swapo regalia.
“The Swapo district office of Omundaungilo must deliver a public apology to the Haihambo family and the mourners for their role in facilitating the speech delivered under Swapo. Nambinga must apologise and pay N$200 000 for his role in deviating from his role as a speaker, turning to sloganeering, chanting and political campaigning, thereby prejudicing attendees,” the letter read.
Not about politics
When approached by Namibian Sun, one of those asked to apologise, Kakololo, declined to comment.
Erastus yesterday reiterated what he said in the letter, adding: “I solemnly need the absurd and uncivilised practice of ‘viva, viva’, dancing, chanting, fist-waving, salutes and inconsiderate political songs - which serve to dishonour the supposedly inviolable last moments of a family paying their last respects to their loved one - to come to an end.”
He is said to be a die-hard supporter of the Rally for Democracy and Progress (RDP), but initially refused to comment on the matter, and on whether his reaction was rooted in his association with an opposition party that once gave Swapo a run for its money.
Late yesterday afternoon, he told Namibian Sun that it is not about his political affiliation, but rather about his siblings respecting their mother’s memory. “Wherever you go, families are politically diverse. I do not at this time belong to any political party, but, honestly, that is immaterial when dealing with the death of your mother.”
He added that he is willing to take on this fight and preach his message to the entire country.
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