Staff Reporter
The unedited – and until now – unpublished video interview with the liberation struggle icon who gave Namibia her name, the late Professor Mburumba Kerina, exposes the real facts surrounding his burial wishes.
The 0:29 seconds video taken in late 2019 puts to rest a contrived debate bordering a political agenda of factionalism and opportunism that lines different groups in the Ovaherero communities against each other.
Standing at the foot of the grave of Chief Hosea Kutako at the Sacred Shrine in Okahandja, when asked where he would eventually wish to be buried, Kerina – who many assumed would have preferred a heroes send off at the Heroes Acre on the outskirts of Windhoek – makes a shocking revelation.
“I’ve made a major contribution to our country and as small as it is here, this is where my pride comes from. I cannot be buried anywhere else, except next to my benefactors,” he said, while demonstrating contempt and disqualified Heroe’s Acre as a possible burial site for himself.
Despite his wishes, however, Kerina’s final resting place appears to be hanging in the balance and he might end up sharing a grave with his late mother in Windhoek.
This comes after the Ovaherero Traditional Authority over the weekend approached the court and overturned the planned burial of Kerina at the Sacred Shrine in Okahandja, arguing that the site is reserved for chiefs.
The factionalism comes after Ovitoto Chief Vipuira Kapuuo granted the Kerina family permission to bury the liberation pioneer at the Sacred Shrine.
Apart from Chief Kutako, some of the other graves at the sacred burial site in Okahandja include that of Chief Samuel Maharero, Chief Kuaima Riruako, Chief Clemens Kapuuo and will soon be the resting place of the late Paramount Chief Vekuii Rukoro.
Incidentally, both Rukoro and Kerina, who died mere days apart due to Covid-19, are amongst the founding fathers of the constitution, who are in death roped in by various factions and activists stoking fires of discontent and factionalism.
Kerina died on 14 June 2021 and his memorial service was held in Windhoek on Saturday after President Hage Geingob granted him a state funeral.
