Mourners gathered at Farm Snip River in the ||Kharas Region to pay tribute to late Swapo Party liberation struggle stalwart Ida Jimmy-!Ha-Eiros during the official memorial service.
Jimmy-!Ha-Eiros died on April 3 at the age of 79.
Delivering the message of President Nangolo Mbumba, Prime Minister Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila says the liberation struggle icon in her political journey encountered immense hardships, torture, and imprisonment at the hands of the colonial regime oppressors.
"As we pay respects to this remarkable woman, let us take solace in the fact that her fight for freedom was not in vain. Namibia is now a united, independent, and free nation in which all Namibians enjoy equal fundamental human rights and freedom owing to the heroic sacrifices of heroes and heroines like Comrade Ida Jimmy, who will remain forever etched in our hearts."
Paying her respect on behalf of the Swapo Party, the party's Secretary General hailed Jimmy-!Ha-Eiros as an outstanding apartheid activist, freedom fighter, unionist, and notable community leader, known by many for his overflowing wisdom, advice, and unifying acumen.
"At the height of the struggle for the liberation of our country, Comrade Ida Jimmy was prepared to face and confront the brutal apartheid regime. She extensively mobilised Namibians to reject colonial oppression and influenced thousands of sons and daughters of this land to rally behind Swapo when it was not fashionable to do so."
In his message, Founding President Sam Nujoma remembered the late Jimmy-!Ha-Eiros as a humble person who endured prison life for Namibia's independence.
"We are thus laying to rest a stalwart and a mother who combined resilience and fortitude in fighting colonial oppression and apartheid with compassion for the poor and the downtrodden. We are bidding farewell to a heroine who shaped many people's political thought and action in many ways."
On his part, former President Hifikepunya Pohamba described Jimmy-!Ha-Eiros as a fearless freedom fighter.
"Comrade Ida will be remembered as a fearless daughter of the soil who played a significant role in mobilising the masses during the liberation struggle and who rose within the ranks and files, eventually serving as a member of the Swapo Party CC and Politburo."
In his tribute to the late liberation struggle, Michael Jimmy remembered his mother as a beacon of strength and courage whose legacy resonates through the generations.
"As children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, we carry her spirit forward, honouring her remarkable journey and the sacrifices she made for a better tomorrow. May her legacy continue to inspire hope and resilience in all who follow in her footsteps."
Jimmy-!Ha-Eiros will be buried during a state funeral at her farm, Snip Rivier, tomorrow.