Chronicler of OvaHerero history and veteran NBC broadcaster, Alexander Jarimbovandu Kaputu, has died. He was 69. Kaputu died on Tuesday around 23h00 after he was rushed to the Otjinene Clinic from his home village of Ombakaha. Ministry of Information and Communication Technology Executive Director Mbeuta Ua Ndjarakana announced his passing on Otjiherero’s Omurari FM Wednesday morning. Ua Ndjarakana described Kaputu’s death as a great loss, before noting that he had been unwell for some time. “He was a great treasure from which all cultures and traditions benefited greatly. He was God-sent. I don’t know with whom his heroic exploits can compare,” he said. He added: “We have lost a blessing that was bequeathed to us by God and our ancestors.” Born on 09 March 1952, Kaputu retired in 2015 from the Namibian Broadcasting Corporation (NBC) after having served the national broadcaster for over three decades. Kaputu is lauded as having touched the hearts of many Namibians in oral literature, oral history and broadcasting at the South West Africa Broadcasting Corporation and later NBC. Information minister Peya Mushelenga remembers Kaputu as a historian par excellence who contributed to oral literature. “I remember in 1996 when I was a civil servant at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs when the late Kaputu was seeking assistance from the Ministry to facilitate his access to the United Nations (UN) archives in New York for information about Chief Hosea Kutako's role on Namibia's independence. His contribution to the field of history was recognised by the University of Namibia, which bestowed on him an honorary doctorate. It is my wish that someone pick up on his work and passion for history,” Mushelenga said. He was commonly referred to as the ‘moving encyclopaedia of OvaHerero history’ due to his impeccable memory, oratory skills and unparalleled understanding of African tradition, culture and history. Kaputu received an honorary Doctorate of Philosophy Honoris Causa in Literature from the University of Namibia in 2019.