OKANGHUDI – Namibia has lost one of its most dedicated pioneers in maternal healthcare following the death of former First Lady Penehupifo Pohamba at the age of 78 on Saturday night.
Pohamba leaves behind her husband, former President Hifikepunye Pohamba, and five children.
Before stepping into State House alongside her husband
in 2005, Madame Pohamba spent decades serving her country on the frontlines as a professional nurse and midwife.
This healthcare-driven empathy ultimately defined her decade as First Lady, during which she tirelessly championed women’s empowerment, rural clinic access, and public welfare.
Her passing at the Windhoek hospital bearing her name
has triggered an outpouring of grief across the country.
Yesterday, in a statement read on her behalf by Minister in the Presidency Charles Mubita, Head of State Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah offered her condolences to former president Pohamba and his family, calling the passing a painful loss for both the family and the nation.
“For the first time since independence in 1990,
Namibia mourns the passing of a woman who served as First Lady of our Republic,” Mubita said.
Mubita urged Namibians to respect the family’s privacy as they grieve, stressing that the death, while a moment of national sadness, was above all a personal loss for those closest to the deceased.
“Let us allow them the space to mourn in peace, surrounded by the love and support of those closest to them,” he said.
He said further information would be communicated to the nation in due course, in consultation with the bereaved family.
National loss
Fellow former First Lady Monica Geingos paid an emotional tribute, describing Madame Pohamba as a trusted adviser who provided unconditional wisdom when she took over the office in 2015.
“From our first conversations to our most recent, she opened her heart and offered wisdom without judgement and counsel without condition,” she said. She said Pohamba’s support extended beyond their professional relationship, describing Pohamba as someone she could turn to for advice during difficult moments.
From her early days as a healthcare worker to her extensive advocacy for maternal health and HIV/AIDS awareness, her sudden loss has left both rural communities in the Ohangwena region and urban centres united in grief, said Geingos.
Former diplomat and veteran Ambassador Tuliameni Kalomoh has expressed grief over the passing of former First Lady “Kambosho” Pohamba, describing her death as a devastating blow to the nation and to those who shared her lifelong journey from childhood into the liberation struggle. Recalling their early years, Kalomoh shared that their bond dates back to their school days at St. Mary’s Mission in Odibo, where they grew up together.
He said, “She was one class ahead of me, but we were in the same group. She graduated and went to study nursing, finished her nursing education, and started work at St. Mary’s Hospital.” Kalomoh noted that she inherited her strict adherence to values from her upbringing. “Her father was a school teacher, a disciplinarian, a great teacher he was,” he added. He recounted the perilous journey into exile during the struggle for Namibia’s independence, remembering the moment their paths crossed in the border forests in 1974. “On 01 September 1974, I crossed the border into Angola. In a small forest on the border, Kambosho, Meme Penehupifo, was with her first husband, Malakia, who sacrificed his life in the struggle for our freedom. There they were with their baby, Waldheim. I think Waldheim was about two years old. So, we trekked together, Malakia and I carrying Waldheim on our shoulders,” he remarked. He described how their paths continued to cross throughout the liberation movement across Southern Africa.
“We met periodically in the struggle in Zambia and in Angola until we met finally in a free and independent Namibia. As a nurse, she started to work for the government hospital, she used to work at Robert Mugabe Clinic, and she helped the effort led by Sam Nujoma, the First President, for our nation-building,” Kalomoh reflected.
Former cabinet minister Ben Amathila has called on Namibians to rally behind former president Hifikepunye Pohamba and his family.
Addressing mourners at the Pohamba residence yesterday morning, Amathila said the family needed time to grieve, urging those gathered to give the former president space to rest as he comes to terms with the loss of his wife.
“Comrade President Pohamba has been awake, I don’t know how many days, and now he’s not sleeping well,” Amathila said, adding that the former president needed a moment alone before he could engage with mourners.
He said Pohamba was not yet in a position to address those who had gathered but wanted to express his appreciation to everyone who had come to offer comfort and solidarity.
Amathila acknowledged that some mourners had set aside church attendance and other personal commitments to be with the family during its time of grief.
He said their presence was important in helping Pohamba and his children understand that they were not alone in their loss.
Amathila said information available to the family and mourners remained limited, but confirmed that Penehupifo had been in and out of hospital for some time.
He said those close to her had hoped and prayed for her recovery, but their wishes had not been fulfilled. “Our wishes did not conspire with the wisdom of our Creator,” Amathila said.
He described her passing as a profound loss for the family, while expressing hope that she was now free from pain and suffering.
Several mourners, including Prime Minister Elijah Ngurare, visited the family’s home in Windhoek yesterday to offer their condolences.
Mourning community
As dignitaries flood the capital with formal tributes, a quiet, tearful mourning took hold at the Okanghudi village homestead, where people remembered the late Pohamba simply as a sister, a mother, a generous neighbour, a humble mentor, a dedicated Christian, and a champion for the vulnerable.
Her younger sister, Loide Hainane, said she had lived with Pohamba for 23 years and had never seen her shout at anyone in the household.
“My sister taught me a lot and was always advising me. She was like a mother to me,” she said.
Hainane recalled how the two would often joke while cooking in the kitchen. “She loved dry spinach and ondjove. I always made her happy whenever I cooked delicious spinach. She would say, ‘Today you cooked well, my sister,’” she recalled.
She described her sister as a graceful person who always expressed appreciation whenever her sister cooked for her. “I lost my friend, my mentor and a very humble sister,” she said, fighting back tears.
Her nephew, Nepembe Mateus, who uses a wheelchair, described Pohamba as caring and fond of order.
“She bought this wheelchair for me. If it were not for her, I would not have it. I am grateful for everything she did for me,” he said.
Mateus described Pohamba as a quiet woman who spoke softly and always wore a happy expression.
Her son, Mandume Pohamba, described her as a caring, loving woman who played an important role in the family. He added that she had also taken good care of his father throughout their life together.
“My mother did not discriminate against anyone because there were many children raised in our home,” he said. Pohamba said his mother was a true Christian who ensured the family prayed and read the Bible before going to bed.
“She did not like people who did not behave. She was a teacher at home,” he added. Her neighbour, Tilde Sheendelwako, described Pohamba as a kind woman who often provided food and clothing to people in the community.
“Whenever there were events at her homestead, she would invite us to come and eat. She was a good neighbour,” she said.
Shendelwako said Pohamba had also helped many learners in the village by providing school uniforms and supporting their education.
-fhamalwa@nepc.com.na
*Additional reporting by Nampa
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