‘She was a big sister, healer of the people’ — Nandi-Ndaitwah mourns Madame Pohamba

The family of Namibia’s former First Lady, Madame Penehupifo Hashokwalindishi Pohamba, has paid glowing tributes to the late matriarch, remembering her as a devoted wife, mother, grandmother and woman of compassion.

At her memorial service held at Parliament Gardens in Windhoek on Saturday, President Dr Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah described Madame Pohamba as a “big sister, comrade in arms, healer of the people and a mother to many.”

The President praised her decades of service as a nurse and midwife, saying her commitment to caring for others had left an enduring legacy in the lives of the people she served.

Family members also remembered her for her warmth, playful humour, love of fashion, prayerfulness and special bond with her grandchildren.

Speaking on behalf of the children, Ndapanda Pohamba reflected on their mother’s life and the values she brought to the family, while granddaughter Ndeshihafela Pohamba delivered a tribute on behalf of the grandchildren.

A tribute from her husband, former President Dr Hifikepunye Pohamba, was read by Ambassador Tuliameni Kalomoh.

The tribute added a deeply personal dimension to the memorial as the former President reflected on the loss of his lifelong companion, while family members and mourners celebrated her life and legacy.

Beyond her years in public life, Madame Pohamba was remembered as a woman whose influence was rooted in family, service and compassion.

The memorial service brought together relatives, friends and mourners to celebrate a life that, according to the tributes, extended far beyond her role as Namibia’s Second First Lady.

Her legacy, the mourners recalled, lives on in the family she nurtured, the patients she served and the many people whose lives she touched.