Anna Ingwafa
23 July 2008
Oshakati — President Hifikepunye Pohamba who had a congested programme last Saturday unveiled a statue of late Reverend Mwadikange Vilho Kaulinge, at a new secondary school named after Kaulinge at Ondobe in the Ohangwena Region.
At the unveiling ceremony, the President said it was appropriate that Reverend Kaulinge was honoured by naming a new secondary school after him.
"Through hard work, the late Revered Mwadikange Kaulinge rose to become a spiritual and community leader and contributed to Namibia's struggle for freedom and independence. He stood firm and preached against the injustices of apartheid," said Pohamba.
"He even went as far as staring apartheid's John Vorster in the face, demanding the end of colonial rule in Namibia. Such courage and tenacity must serve as a lesson to all Namibia's young and old to fight for what we believe in with determination," he said.
The Head of State believes the statute of Kaulinge was placed at the right location where it will continue to inspire the youth to aim for higher goals in life.
He called on students as well as teachers to uphold and propagate the legacy of Mwandikange Kaulinge through words and deeds.
"I have no doubt that this statute that we are unveiling here today will remind each and everyone of you that hard work has its reward. It should inspire you to emulate the deeds of a man who did everything in his power to serve his community, and his nation," he said.
The President further described Kaulinge as a soldier of peace and campaigner for justice and that the country benefited immensely from his selfless contribution.
He urged the learners, teachers and the community of Ondobe to be proud because the school is named after a patriotic Namibian.
"I urge you to uphold high standards of education and academic excellence at all times. This must be the way of keeping the legacy of the late Revered Vilho Mwadikange Kaulinge alive.".
Revered Vilho Mwadikange Kaulinge was born in 1890 before the Portuguese and the English colonized the Oukwanyama Kingdom.
He was a councilman to King Mandume jaNdemufayo and also a cupbearer, the King's personal attendant and the overseer of the king's armoury.
He was trained as a teacher in the early 1920s. From 1933 to 1936, Revered Mwadikange Kaulinge was a student at a theological seminary.
In July 1937, he was ordained as a pastor of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Namibia (Elcin) and in the same year he founded the Ondobe Lutheran Parish until his retirement in 1977.
He was one of the delegates that went to meet the Prime Minister of South Africa John Vorster, an event that was prompted by the famous "open letter" of the two Lutheran Churches in Namibia to Vorster condemning the South African policy of Apartheid in South West Africa. He passed away on October 14, 1992.
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