Family honours liberation veteran Hishoono - nbc

A family memorial service dedicated to family and the community was held on Wednesday for veteran of the liberation struggle Kanana Hishoono at Ohangwena's Onambutu village.
Those paying tributes described him as brave, fearless, a good advisor, and a walking library.

Kanana Hishoono, a teacher, politician, and headman of Onambutu village, was born at Ongula ya Netanga in 1934.
Like many boys of his generation, Hishoono grew up herding cattle and travelled as far as Oshimolo in Angola while looking after livestock.

In 1950, he began his schooling at Odibo, driven by a desire for a better future. In 1958, Hishoono left for South Africa, where he worked at a gold mine in Durban, serving as a teller at Roodepoort Deep.
Late Hishoono was among the founding members of the Ovamboland People's Organisation (OPO) in 1959 and later played a key role in the formation of the South West Africa People's Organisation (SWAPO) on 19 April 1960.

Remembering the late icon was son Abed-Nego Hishoono.

"My father, he is that genius that you will sit down with, and you will not notice the passing of time, and everything that comes is wisdom."

Hishoono says his father went into exile in 1976, where he formed part of those who played a crucial role in the liberation struggle.

"According to what he told us, when he went into exile as a teacher, he was the one who opened a school in Cassinga, and before Cassinga was bombed, he moved to Huambo in Angola, and he also started a school for the Namibian refugees."

The councillor for Eenhana Constituency, Olivia Hanghuwo, described the late Hishoono as a good adviser who assisted her during her political campaign.

"We are mourning a legend. He was even a best friend. I knew him for a long time. I liked him so much because he was our father. I was close to him. He was kind to everybody, a peaceful man, a man who loved his party, Swapo, very much, and the great thing he did for me that I will always remember was in the year 2020 when he helped me campaign to be a councillor for the first time."

Former Oshana Police Commander Ndahangwapo Kashihakumwa also paid his respects.

"He is an icon of the liberation struggle. Some of us say that if you talk about the liberation struggle, there is no way you can mention some names without mentioning his name, and that is what led him to be arrested and taken to Robben Island. Namibia attained independence because of some of our elders."

#NBCNews #nbcdigitalnews #nbcDSTV282 #nbcGOtv20 #nbcPlusApp