A Tribute to Two Trailblazers: Tjizapaha Tjijombo and Utjiuee Tjiharuka

Tjizapaha Morata Samir Nasri Salomon Tjijombo & Utjiuee Kanjii Emson Sir-Placater Pol-Accountant  Tjiharuka

A Tribute to Two Trailblazers: Tjizapaha Tjijombo and Utjiuee Tjiharuka
By The Himbacracy Philosopher – Mentor of the Graduates in Otjiurunga

Today, I pen this message with a heart full of pride and admiration for two exceptional young men whose educational journey serves as a beacon of hope and inspiration, not only to the marginalised communities of Namibia but to every young person who dares to dream beyond the limitations imposed by circumstance.

Tjizapaha Tjijombo, who graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in English and Applied Linguistics, and Utjiuee Tjiharuka, who obtained a Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting from the Namibia University of Science and Technology (NUST), are not just graduates. They are living proof of resilience, discipline, and unwavering commitment to education.

Their story began at Oukongo Primary School, where they both took their first steps into formal education. Guided not by external voices but by an internal determination, they made a bold and private decision to transfer to Okahozu Primary School, without informing anyone in advance. This decision marked the beginning of their courageous and independent thinking, hallmarks of true leaders.

After completing their primary education at Okahozu, life took them on different paths: Utjiuee continued his schooling at Otjerunda Combined School, while Tjizapaha went on to Orumana Combined School. Later, Utjiuee moved again, this time to I.K. Tjimuhiva Combined School. Despite the physical distance between them, their shared passion for academic excellence remained intact.

Fate brought them back together at Onawa Senior Secondary School, where they successfully completed their Grade 12. Their reunion at Onawa symbolised not just friendship but an unbreakable bond forged through shared struggles and triumphs.

After high school, their paths diverged again, Tjizapaha enrolled at the University of Namibia (UNAM) to pursue Education, while Utjiuee joined NUST for a degree in Accounting. Yet, their destinies were not to remain separate for long. As a second-year student at UNAM, Tjizapaha made a brave and visionary decision to register for an additional qualification at NUST, where his friend Utjiuee was already studying. This move required immense courage and sacrifice. Tjizapaha completed his Diploma in Education at UNAM and went on to complete his Bachelor’s in English and Applied Linguistics at NUST.

Today, these two sons of Otjiurunga Village stand tall as proud graduates. Tjizapaha Tjijombo, now a dedicated teacher at Opuwo Primary School, holds two qualifications from two prestigious institutions, an exceptional milestone for the youngest in his community. He is the first person from Otjiurunga to earn a Bachelor’s Degree in English and Applied Linguistics. Utjiuee Tjiharuka, now serving the nation as a Police Officer and Accountant within the Namibian Police Force, is the first graduate from Otjiurunga to hold a Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting.

Their journey has not been easy. It was filled with hardship, perseverance, and sacrifice. As sons of a marginalized community, they walked the long, dusty paths of rural Namibia with their heads held high, carrying the hopes of their people on their shoulders. They have shattered barriers, broken generational limitations, and carved out a legacy for others to follow.

In Otjiurunga, we say: “We are the people who do not ask for water from the women when we return from hunting.” This saying speaks to our bravery, resilience, and pride. Now, we must also be known as the people who conquer the classroom, who carry spears of knowledge, and who hunt for excellence in the academic wilderness.

Let the stories of Tjizapaha and Utjiuee be passed down to the youth of Otjiurunga and beyond. Let them be a call to action for every young boy and girl who believes they are too poor, too remote, or too forgotten to dream big.

May their achievements ignite the fire of academic ambition in every heart and soul from the Kunene to the Zambezi. And may they be honoured not just today, but for generations to come, as the sons of Otjiurunga who dared to dream and made history.