Geingob confers state funeral on Shikongo and official funeral for Frederik and Indongo

WINDHOEK, 22 MAY- President Hage Geingob on Friday conferred the honour of a State funeral on the late Mathew Shikongo and conferred official funeral status on the late Bishop Emeritus, Dr Hendrik Frederik and Naftali Indongo. He served as the mayor of Windhoek in 1993 and again from 2000 to 2010, the longest term served by a Windhoek mayor in independent Namibia.

WINDHOEK, 22 MAY (NAMPA) – President Hage Geingob on Friday conferred the honour of a State funeral on the late Mathew Shikongo and conferred official funeral status on the late Bishop Emeritus, Dr Hendrik Frederik and Naftali Indongo.

According to a Presidency media statement on Friday, the funerals are conferred on recommendation of the National Honours Advisory Committee and in terms of Sub-Article (8) of Article 32 of the Namibian Constitution.

Shikongo was a prominent business personality who died on 13 May 2021 at Ongwediva Medipark where he was admitted for COVID-19 infection. He served as the mayor of Windhoek in 1993 and again from 2000 to 2010, the longest term served by a Windhoek mayor in independent Namibia.

Indongo who died on 13 May 2021 was a liberation struggle veteran.

Meanwhile, Bishop Frederik who reportedly also succumbed to COVID-19 complications on 15 May 2021 in the Keetmanshoop State Hospital in the ||Kharas Region at the age of 80, was the first Bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in the Republic of Namibia. He is also known to have played a vital role in the liberation struggle of Namibia.

The remains of the three, according to the statement, are to be interred at a place and date which is yet to be agreed to with the respective families.

“President Hage Geingob extends deepest sympathies to the wives, the children and families of these outstanding Namibians who devoted their lives to the liberation and prosperity of Namibians,” the statement reads.

(NAMPA)

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