President Hage Geingob applauded the late Shikalepo Jack Hayoonga for serving SWAPO and the Namibian people with dedication and selflessness. The Head of State conferred an official funeral to the late Hayoonga who was buried at Eenhana Memorial Shrine today. A legend of the liberation struggle, Hayoonga died at Okongo State Hospital on 13 January at the age of 92. He was a pioneer of the struggle for freedom and independence of Namibia who spent half of his productive life in the armed struggle for Namibia's independence. He joined the South West Africa Liberation Army (SWALA) in 1967. He received his military training at Zambia specialising in infantry and artillery. He was a detachment commander operating from Angola. He was later deployed to the northern front and appointed camp commander at Oshilumbashanda in 1980. He also worked as camp commander at Nawa Base in Lubango from 1982 until his repatriation to Namibia in 1989. For his relentless activism, he was conferred the Most Distinguished Order of Namibia on 26 August 2007 by former President Hifikepunye Pohamba. In a message of condolences read on his behalf, President Hage Geingob said departed compatriots like Hayoonga and others should be honoured by fighting the evils of corruption, nepotism, and tribalism, which can destroy the Namibian nation. Former President Hifikepunye Pohamba and Founding President Sam Nujoma also sent their messages of condolences to the bereaved family. President of the Namibia National Liberation Veterans Association, Ben Shikongo also paid his last respects to the fearless freedom fighter. He is survived by his wife and six children. Hayoonga is the sixth veteran of the liberation struggle to be buried at Eenhana Shrine.