Uerikua denied state funeral amid honours freeze
The Presidency has confirmed that there will be no state funeral for the late Swapo member of parliament and former Otjozondjupa governor James Uerikua, who died in a motor vehicle accident on 3 April, along with his son.
This follows speculation from members of the public questioning whether Uerikua would be granted a state funeral, given his leadership contributions to the Namibian nation.
When reached for comment on whether Uerikua would formally be recommended for a state-funded funeral, the Presidency’s spokesperson Jonas Mbambo said the conferral of national honours, including state or state-sponsored funerals, is a constitutional power vested in the President.
“These matters fall within the discretion of the Presidency and are exercised in line with established laws and protocols. As such, decisions of this nation do not require public justification,”
Last year, Cabinet resolved to suspend the awarding of official funerals from 16 June 2025 until 31 March 2026, pending a thorough review of the criteria and processes involved in bestowing national honours.
Despite this, Cabinet resolving to suspend the awarding of official funerals, certain individuals such as former Namibian Defence Force (NDF) chief Solomon ‘Jesus’ Hawala and veteran of the liberation struggle Kanana Hishoono were given state funerals in recognition of their roles as liberation struggle heroes.
The Advisory Committee for National Honours’ chairperson Annely Haiphene told NMH that due to the moratorium on state-funded funerals, the committee is currently unable to advise the President on such matters.
She said that a review committee has been appointed to evaluate the current framework governing state-funded funerals and other honours. “So for now, no one should comment or provide advice in the interim,” she said.
The committee is said to comprise no more than seven members, with its composition and terms of reference to be proposed by the prime minister in consultation with the presidency, the defence ministry, and the attorney general. Cabinet will have the final say on the appointments.
Defence minister Frans Kapofi told Namibian Sun last year that the decision is procedural in nature and does not override the constitution.
“What Cabinet placed under moratorium was the manner in which the honours are typically awarded, not the president’s constitutional authority,” he said.
He added that should the need arise, the president retains full discretion to bestow national honours, including state-funded funerals.
“It is a constitutional mandate, and should the president decide to exercise that power, it will be done accordingly,” Kapofi explained.
He further stressed that the temporary suspension does not infringe on the provisions of Article 32 of the Namibian Constitution, nor on the National Honours Act of 2012.
“There is no doubt - the suspension does not affect the constitutional provision granting the president this right,” he said.
Cabinet reiterated this position, affirming that the moratorium does not interfere with the president’s powers as enshrined in law.
Tributes continued to pour in at the memorial service of James Unomasa and his son Venturo Uerikua at the Parliament Gardens on Wednesday in Windhoek.
