Mutwa accorded State Funeral and national hero status

By Last updated Jun 29, 2021

This was announced by the Presidency in a statement on Friday highlighting that Geingob has further directed a three-day national mourning period in Mutwa’s honour during which all flags in Namibia will be flown at half-mast with effect from Friday, 18 June to Sunday, 20 June 2021. “President Geingob extends sincere condolences to the wife, Colonel Selma Mutwa,…

WINDHOEK, 18 JUN (NAMPA) – President Hage Geingob has conferred the honour of national hero and State Funeral for the late Lieutenant General (Retired) John Mutwa who died on Thursday.

The remains of the late Mutwa will be interred on a date and place to be agreed to by his family, in the Zambezi Region.

This period of mourning shall run concurrently with the observance of a national mourning period in honour of late Founding President of Zambia, Kenneth Kaunda.

“President Geingob extends sincere condolences to the wife, Colonel Selma Mutwa, the children and entire family, including comrades and friends of this outstanding freedom fighter who has served the country from a tender age on the frontlines of the liberation struggle and in the Namibian Defence Force (NDF) in post-independent Namibia, where he ultimately rose to the rank of Chief of the NDF,” the statement reads further.

Mutwa was born on 23 September 1960 in Mahundu village in the Zambezi Region. He joined the liberation struggle as member of the Peoples Liberation Army of Namibia (PLAN) and joined the NDF in 1990 with the rank of lieutenant colonel where he served in different key positions, including chief of staff logistics and army commander.

On 31 December 2013, Mutwa was appointed as defence force chief by former President Hifikepunye Pohamba, a position he held until his retirement on 31 March 2020. During his time with the NDF, Mutwa was honoured and decorated with different medals including the excellent order of the eagle first class.

(NAMPA)

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