TSUMKWE: President Hifikepunye Pohamba on Saturday joined the !Kung San people in Tsumkwe West to give a decent mass burial to the !Kung San Chief, his wife and grandson who died two weeks ago in a car accident.

Pohamba said at the mass burial on Saturday that the tragic death of Chief John Arnold, 54, his wife Maria !Nuse, 50, and their grandson Duggery Arnold, 13, came as a shock to him.

“Their tragic death represent a sad loss to his bereaved family, the !Kung Traditional Authority and to all those that knew them,” said President Pohamba.

Pohamba noted that the death of Chief Arnold is also a loss to the council of traditional leaders in Namibia in which he participated selflessly in advising the president on the matters pertaining to the utilisation of communal land.

The Head of State said that Duggery who lost his life at the age of 13 will be sorely missed by his school mates and friends.

“His life was cut short too soon at the age of 13, before he could realise his full potential,” he said.

Therefore, Pohamba expressed the condolences to the bereaved families on behalf of the entire Government and the people of the Republic of Namibia.

“My condolence goes especially to the children who have now become orphans, and I wish you strength during this difficult time of mourning. May their souls rest in eternal peace” said Pohamba.

Chief Arnold died two weeks ago in the Roman Catholic Hospital in the capital after a road accident in Omatako village.

At the time of accident on 05 July 2012 at night Chief Arnold was traveling with his wife !Nuse, 50, and their grandson Duggery, 13.

The three deceased were coming from their homestead situated in the Tsumkwe Constituency on that night.

Arnold’s nephew Erastus Arnold told Nampa earlier this month that the accident happened 15 kilometres from their homestead towards the Omatako main road.

Chief Arnold lost control of his private vehicle he was driving and it overturned three times.

!Nuse and Duggery died on the spot while the chief sustained serious injuries on his whole body.

“He broke three ribs, collarbone, his right arm, his jaws and his neck was also fractured,” said Erastus.

The chief was then taken straight to Katutura State Hospital from the accident scene in an intensive care.

He was later transferred to Roman Catholic Hospital in Windhoek on13 July on which an operation was done on him the same day.

It was found that his brains were swelling all the time.

Arnold was Chief of the !Kung San people from 1990 and was officially recognised by Government as chief in 1998.

He was a son of Hilmar Arnold.

The chief leaves behind 10 children and 13 grandchildren.

Approximately 900 people had attended the mass burial of three people in one grave on Saturday at the Omatako village in the Tsumkwe West.

(edited)TSUMKWE, 29 JUL (NAMPA) – President Hifikepunye Pohamba on Saturday joined hundreds of people for the burial of !Kung San Chief John Arnold, his wife and grandson at Omatako village in Tsumkwe West.

The 54-year-old chief died in the Roman Catholic Hospital in Windhoek two weeks ago after he was involved in an accident which occurred near his homestead in the Tsumkwe Constituency.

He was on Saturday laid to rest along with his wife Maria !Nuse, aged 50, and their grandson Duggery Arnold, who died in the accident which occurred near their homestead in the Tsumkwe Constituency on 05 July.

Pohamba said at the funeral on Saturday that the news of the deaths of the chief, his wife and grandson came as a shock to him.

“Their tragic deaths represent a sad loss to the bereaved family, the !Kung Traditional Authority and to all those who knew them,” said President Pohamba.

The Head of State noted that Chief Arnold’s death is also a loss for the council of traditional leaders in Namibia in which he participated selflessly by advising the President on matters such as the utilisation of communal land.

He also stated that Duggery Arnold will be sorely missed by his school-mates and friends.

“His life was cut short too soon, at the age of 13, before he could realise his full potential,” he said.

Pohamba expressed condolences to the bereaved family on behalf of the government and all Namibians.

Chief Arnold died two weeks ago in the Roman Catholic Hospital in the capital, where he was being treated after the accident.

The three deceased were coming from their homestead situated in the Tsumkwe Constituency when the accident occurred on the night of 05 July.

A nephew of the chief, Erastus Arnold told Nampa earlier this month that the accident occurred 15 kilometres from their homestead towards the Omatako main road.

Chief Arnold lost control of the vehicle he was driving and it overturned three times.

!Nuse and Duggery died on the spot, while the chief sustained serious injuries.

“He broke three ribs, his collarbone and his right arm. His jaw was also broken and his neck fractured,” Erastus Arnold explained.

The chief was admitted to the Katutura State Hospital’s intensive care unit, and then transferred to the Roman Catholic Hospital on Friday, 13 July. An operation was conducted on the chief on the same day, and it was found that he had suffered swelling of the brain.

Arnold held his position as chief of the !Kung San people from 1990, and was officially recognised by Government as chief in 1998.

He was a son of Hilmar Arnold.

The chief leaves behind 10 children and 13 grandchildren.

Approximately 900 people attended the funeral at Omatako village on Saturday.