11/08/2026
COASTAL PEOPLE:
WALVIS BAY — Hanna Mupetami is a living monument to the history of this central coastal town. At 87 years old, she still resides in the same Kuisebmond home she moved into on New Year’s Eve in 1959, during the forced relocations from the old location. While her daily life plays out quietly in her meticulously tidy home, her legacy is written across the town's geography. The former 18th Road, the critical traffic artery connecting Walvis Bay’s central business district to the vital fish factories at the heart of the local economy—now proudly bears her name. Mupetami’s early life reflects the sharp systemic constraints of the apartheid era. She belongs to the last living generation to attend school at the historic Rhenish Mission Church, the oldest surviving building in Walvis Bay. In those years, formal education for Black learners was strictly capped at Standard 3 (Grade 5). Lacking the financial resources to relocate to Windhoek to continue her schooling, Mupetami entered the workforce early. She spent her life working as a domestic servant for white families, including a long tenure with the Lombard family, with whom she maintained a deep bond of mutual respect despite opposing political views. Yet, her domestic responsibilities never dimmed her political convictions. Joining SWAPO in her early twenties, Mupetami became an active participant in the struggle for national independence. This dedication came at a high personal cost. She faced frequent confrontation with the white-ruled authorities, including a weekend imprisonment during a political rally in Walvis Bay. Her activism required extensive, perilous travel across Namibia. On one occasion, when stopped at a police roadblock by officers searching specifically for her, she narrowly escaped arrest by cleverly identifying herself as "Hanna Johannes”, using her father’s first name to pass through safely. Reflecting on those turbulent decades, Mupetami insists the hardships were entirely necessary, noting that without those shared sacrifices, Namibia would not be free today. Her contributions have since been recognized with an award from SWAPO and the high-profile street renaming, honors that bring her immense pride. However, her view of modern Namibian society is tempered by deep concern. Sitting in her home in Diamant Street, Mupetami notes that contemporary life lacks the safety and community cohesion of her youth. She expresses deep worry over rising crime, gender-based violence, the soaring cost of living, and a perceived breakdown in discipline and respect among the younger generation. Despite these concerns, Mupetami finds hope in Namibia’s evolving political landscape, expressing satisfaction with the leadership of Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah. She urges the Head of State to engage directly with the youth to combat destructive outside influences, such as drug abuse, which threaten the fabric of the nation. For Mupetami, the future of the nation relies on the same principles that drove the liberation struggle: mutual respect, unity, and an unwavering commitment to the community.
The full article and photos: https://theatlanticgazette.com/coastal-people -hanna-mupetami
