Bishop Lukas Katenda 

A nation in mourning 

Death has been hovering over Namibia in a profound and deeply troubling way, claiming beautiful souls among our children, young people, and the elderly alike. These losses have left many families grieving the departure of their loved ones, with others continuing to mourn even as we speak.

As a nation, we owe these bereaved families our prayers, messages of condolence, words of comfort, and unwavering support during their difficult moments. We do this though we may not do this publicly!!

The passing of a distinguished daughter of Namibia 

On 18 October 2026, Namibia awoke to yet another sad announcement: the passing of Mrs Penehupifo Pohamba, the wife of H.E. Hifikepunye Pohamba, the Second President of the Republic of Namibia, and consequently the Second First Lady of our young Republic.

Leadership of a nation is no small responsibility. Therefore, the news of her passing has reached far and wide, touching the hearts of Namibians and many others beyond our borders.

Yet, we know that beyond her distinguished role as First Lady, Meme Penehupifo Pohamba was a woman whose life of service had begun long before she assumed this national responsibility.

Following in the footsteps of Florence Nightingale 

In her formative years, Meme Pohamba was among the young women who attended mission schools and pursued the noble calling of nursing. In nursing, one becomes the embodiment of mercy and compassion. Through her training and professional dedication, she became a Nursing Sister—a Registered Nurse and Registered Midwife (RN/RM).

Indeed, her journey of care reflected the enduring spirit of Florence Nightingale, affectionately remembered as the Lady of the Lamp and whose life became synonymous with compassion and selfless service to humanity.

Like Nightingale, Sister Penehupifo Pohamba dedicated herself to the care of others, serving her people with dignity, commitment, and compassion, particularly during the difficult and demanding years of Namibia’s Liberation Struggle in exile.

Her nursing vocation was not merely a profession; it was a call to serve humanity at its most vulnerable moments.

A nurse’s heart beyond independence 

We understand that her commitment to nursing and service continued after Namibia attained independence in 1990. She remained devoted to her calling until her husband, then a senior leader of SWAPO, say its Vice President, Hifikepunye Pohamba, was elected and sworn in as the Second President of the Republic.

This transition ushered her into the new, yet distinguished role previously held by her predecessor, Meekulu Kovambo Theopoldine Nujoma (née Katjimune), as First Lady of the Republic of Namibia.

While this was a sharp turn, pivoting from the nursing profession into a different sphere of national service, the fundamental values that define a nurse, namely compassion, patience, humility, and care for others, remained evident in her public life.

A first lady of grace, dignity and compassion 

Meme Pohamba observably fulfilled her responsibilities as First Lady with honour, dignity, and grace. Her quiet, peaceful, calm, and collected personality endeared her to many and enabled her to carry out her national duties with a sense of humility and purpose.

She gave particular attention to the health and wellbeing of women and children, demonstrating the motherly concern and compassionate intervention that had long characterised her nursing vocation.

Indeed, her life reminds us of an enduring truth: once a nurse, always a nurse!! We saw her administering vaccinations to children against communicable diseases. Even when the uniform of a nursing sister is set aside, the heart of a nurse continues to beat in the service of Namibians.

Her concern extended beyond women and children to include widows and widowers, among others who needed comfort, support, and understanding. Through these efforts, she demonstrated that leadership is not measured merely by titles or positions, but by the lives touched, reformed, renewed and transformed and the burdens eased along the way.

In this respect, her life of service echoed the spirit of Florence Nightingale, whose pioneering work established nursing as a profession founded upon compassion, discipline, and the preservation of human life and dignity.

A legacy beyond the Presidency 

The above are but my reflections that obviously represent but a portion of the public legacy of Sister Penehupifo Pohamba.

Her contributions to nursing in the Namibian context, her service during the Liberation Struggle, and her work as First Lady form as basis for an important chapter in the story of a woman who served her country in different capacities and at different stages of her life.

Beyond her public responsibilities, we must also acknowledge her personal and private role as a wife, mother, and member of a family whose life was connected and consequently intertwined with the demands of national leadership of her husband…

Such responsibilities are not always visible to the public, yet they form an important part of the sacrifices made by those who stand beside our national leaders when the going was tough, and the criticisms that come with such roles.

Her life of disciplined service must therefore invite us to appreciate both the public servant and the woman behind the public office.

“Indeed, Hambelela Nyokokulu ngeno nyoko ina dalwa” is an Oshiwambo proverb which calls us as we celebrate the achievement of children, to never forget to credit the parents, who played a key role in making them who they became.

In this case, Messer Elia Hipangelwa, a Mission School teacher, and his wife reared a daughter and unknowingly dedicated her to becoming a national treasure. May their parental and precious souls rest in peace.

A message of comfort to the bereaved 

As we mourn Meme Penehupifo Pohamba, we also remember all Namibians who passed away on 18 October 2026 and in the days preceding it, as well as those who continue to leave us under different circumstances.

To every bereaved family, we extend our heartfelt condolences and assure you of our prayers.

May the God of all comfort grant you strength in your weakness, peace in your sorrow, and hope in the midst of pain of separation and loss. May His mercy and grace abounding sustain you through the difficult days ahead.

Death may silence a voice and bring a life on earth to an end, but it cannot erase the good that a person has done, the lives that have been touched, or the legacy that remains. Such memories remain engraved in our hearts.

Fraternal greetings and final tribute 

Our fraternal greetings and deepest sympathies are hereby extended to Tatekulu Hifikepunye Pohamba, the Second President of the Republic of Namibia; their children; the entire Pohamba family; and in a specific and profound way, the veterans of Namibia’s liberation struggle.

May you all find comfort in the knowledge and conviction that Meme Penehupifo Pohamba’s life of service will be documented alongside others who have gone before her and the living as part of our national history and collective memory.

As we bid farewell to this distinguished daughter of Namibia, we honour not only the former First Lady, but also the nursing sister who cared for her people, the mother who extended compassion to the vulnerable, and the servant of the Namibian people who carried the spirit of nursing beyond the confines of the profession’s scope.

She followed in the footsteps of Florence Nightingale, carrying the light of compassion into the lives of those she served. May that light continue to inspire generations of nurses and all those called to serve humanity.

May her soul rest in eternal peace and may perpetual light shine upon her.