Jacob Kuhangua

**Jacob Kuhangua** (1933–?) be Namibian nationalist plus anti-colonial activist wey play big role insyd de pre-independence movement. He be one of de people wey start de South West Africa People's Organization (SWAPO) for 1960, den he be de first Secretary-General. He be close ally to Sam Nujoma den help mobilize early nationalist efforts all over South West Africa. Kuhangua help build de ideological plus organizational base for de liberation struggle, den he be among de first Namibians wey go petition de United Nations for Namibia ein independence. Later on, he serve as high-ranking administrator for South West Africa before Namibia gain ein independence.

## Biography

### Early life
Jacob Kuhangua na person wey dem born am for 1933 insyd Ovamboland, den he get ein education from de Anglican Saint Mary's Mission. He start ein work life as schoolteacher before he move go work as colonial clerk. For mid-1950s, he join de underground Mandume Movement together plus people like Sam Nujoma, Louis Nelengani, den Lucas Nepela, wey dem all dey push early resistance against South African colonial rule.

### Political career
Kuhangua ein political life start for mid-1950s for Cape Town, South Africa, where he dey work under de contract labour system. For 1957, he be among de people wey start de Ovamboland People's Congress (OPC), together plus Andimba Toivo ya Toivo, Jariretundu Kozonguizi, Emil Appolus, Andreas Shipanga, den others. De next year, Ya Toivo send petition go United Nations against de human rights abuse wey dey happen under de contract labour system den de illegal occupation of South West Africa by de apartheid South African government. Dis action lead to mass deportation of Namibian contract workers from Cape Town. Kuhangua too get deported go back South West Africa, den dem station am for Windhoek, where he join political work sharp. As founding member of OPC, Kuhangua lead strong for turn OPC into Ovamboland People's Organization (OPO) for April 1959. He get elected as OPO ein Secretary-General den he lead de first Windhoek branch of OPO for de Old Location together plus Sam Nujoma.

Insyd September 1959, dem form de South West African National Union (SWANU) as umbrella body wey go bring all de anti-colonial resistance groups together, including OPO. Because of dat, Kuhangua come turn member of de executive committee. Together plus de leadership of OPO and SWANU, Kuhangua help organize de municipal boycott wey later lead to de Old Location Uprising on 10 December 1959. After de uprising, South African authorities begin tighten pressure on OPO, as dem start dey monitor all demma political activities closely. Later on, dem arrest Kuhangua den deport am go Ovamboland. By February de following year, OPO president Sam Nujoma plus vice president Louis Nelengani flee go exile through Botswana to Tanzania. Kuhangua still keep up ein political work insyd Ovamboland, where he play role for de changeover of OPO into South West Africa People's Organization (SWAPO) for April 1960. Dem re-elect am as Secretary-General even though he no dey present, den he continue to play important administrative den diplomatic role for SWAPO during de early years of de movement.

Insyd August 1960, he escape go exile through Angola, Zambia, Tanzania, den Ethiopia. He later reach New York where he join Sam Nujoma, Jariretundu Kozonguizi, Mburumba Kerina, plus Rev. Michael Scott for de United Nations. He stay insyd New York dey serve as SWAPO ein petitioner to de United Nations. During dis time, he dey study for Lincoln University for USA. On 23 November 1962, United States hold one memorandum of conversation about demma policy on South West Africa, and dis meeting involve Kuhangua den Nujoma. By 1965, he represent SWAPO as observer for de International Court of Justice for The Hague, together plus Nujoma den Emil Appolus. He remain for New York as SWAPO ein UN petitioner till he go back to Tanzania in 1966, after de Organisation of African Unity recognize SWAPO as de only legitimate representative of de Namibian people.

### Years insyd Tanzania, SWAPO “crisis era”
He get ein master's degree for German, wey ein focus be corporate communication. He talk say he be “pure product of Ivorian public education before de crisis.” 

KKB start dey active for de youth wing of de Democratic Party of Côte d’Ivoire (PDCI), wey he support President Félix Houphouët-Boigny, den later President Henri Konan Bédié wey take over after Houphouët-Boigny die for December 1993. Sake of ein efforts, de young politician quick gain de trust den listening ear of de head of state. He get ein master's degree insyd German, wey ein focus be corporate communication. He talk say he be “pure product of Ivorian public education before de crisis.” KKB start dey active for de youth wing of de Democratic Party of Côte d’Ivoire (PDCI), wey he support President Félix Houphouët-Boigny, den later President Henri Konan Bédié wey succeed am after ein death for December 1993. Sake of ein efforts, de young politician quick gain de confidence plus ear of de head of state.

Tension dem rise insyd SWAPO sake of Cold War ideological divisions. Kuhangua, wey learn for de United States, no dey agree plus de Soviet Union den communism, but SWAPO ein vice president Louis Nelengani, wey train for USSR, hold strong anti-Western beliefs. Dis ideological split bring serious divide among Namibians wey dey exile, wey dem split into two opposing camps—one dey follow pro-Western, den de oda dey follow pro-Soviet direction. Insyd 1968, dis tension reach ein peak wey e lead to violence: Nelengani use kitchen knife stab Kuhangua for back insyd Dar es Salaam. De attack damage Kuhangua ein spinal nerve wey make am partially paralyzed. Ein friends for de United States make plans make he go receive treatment abroad, but de injury make am start dey use wheelchair, wey end ein political career.

Insyd de 1969–70 SWAPO Consultative Congress wey dem hold for Tanga, dem replace Kuhangua as Secretary-General of SWAPO plus Moses ǁGaroëb because of ein health condition. Later, Kuhangua return go Namibia, wey he spend ein last years for Oshakati State Hospital den ELCIN Rehabilitation Centre before he die.

## References