This article celebrates the life and legacy of the late Ba Brenden Kangongolo Simbwaye. The late Brenden Kangongolo Simbwaye (1934–1972) was a prominent Namibian nationalist, anti-apartheid activist, teacher, and political leader from the Caprivi Strip (now the Zambezi region).
He is particularly remembered as the founding president of the Caprivi African National Union (CANU) and later as a Vice-President of Swapo. Simbwaye was born in 1934 at Ndangamwa (Lukozi Village), near Malindi, in the eastern Caprivi.
He attended Schuckmansburg Primary School and subsequently the Holy Family Mission in Katima Mulilo, completing Standard 6 Upper in 1955. He then attended Lukulu Teacher Training College in Zambia, where he completed a two-year primary-teacher training course in 1957. He also studied Standard 8 through correspondence with Lyceum College in South Africa.
In August 1957, he started teaching at Holy Family Mission. Opposition to South African colonialism and apartheid increased in Caprivi during the late 1950s and early 1960s. Simbwaye returned to Caprivi in 1964. CANU’s first major public meeting was held in July 1964, but South African authorities acted against the organisation.
On the eve of 26 August 1966, Namibia’s Heroes Day, I called Mzee Zacharia Albert Ndopu, a founder of CANU. He recounted his time with the late stalwart and CANU president. Mzee Ndopu and Brenden Kangongolo Simbwaye attended the same primary school in Schuckmannsburg. They shared a house and meals, fought apartheid together, married the same year, and built a formidable political movement through shared political efforts and strategising.
Brenden Simbwaye is a key figure in Namibian history, founding CANU in 1958 as an underground movement. According to Dr. Bennette Kangumu, who interviewed Mzee Ndopu 22 years ago, CANU began at Holy Family Mission in Katima Mulilo, where Simbwaye and Albert Ndopu taught. The organization met secretly at Simbwaye’s house to avoid police detection. Albert Ndopu still lives in Bukalo, Zambezi region.
CANU was founded on 7 September 1962 with officers: Brenden Kangongolo Simbwaye as President, Crispin Simasiku Mulonda as vice-president, Thomas Muyunda as General Secretary, and Albert Zacharia Ndopu as Publicity Secretary. In May 1964, a reorganisation for tribal inclusiveness expanded the Executive Committee: Brenden Simbwaye as president, Albert Mishake Muyongo as vice-president, Crispin Simasiku Mulonda as General Secretary, Albert Ndopu as Publicity Secretary, Vernet Maswahu as Education Secretary, Alfred Tongo Nalishuwa as Youth Secretary, and Gideon Matengu as Transport Secretary.
When Alfred Tongo Nalishuwa was arrested in July 1964, George Mutwa took over as Youth Secretary. Other CANU leaders included Joseph Nawa, Siloiso Lukonga (a former Ngambela at Mafwe Kuta), Jonathan Mutabi, Charles Mubuyaeta Mubiana, Samuel Musialela, and Mr. Matongo, who joined Swapo Elders’ Council after independence.
In its 1964 Constitution, CANU vowed to promote independence for Southwest Africa and the Caprivi, establish democracy, and ensure land and wealth distribution. CANU campaigned to end South Africa’s rule in the Caprivi and opposed Bantu Education, Bantu community schools, and Afrikaans in Caprivi schools.
At the end of 1963, Brenden Simbwaye left the Caprivi for Lusaka, Northern Rhodesia, to seek support for CANU from the United Nations, which was involved in Zambia’s transition to independence. He also aimed to strengthen ties with the United National Independence Party (UNIP). UNIP, led by Kenneth Kaunda, who governed Zambia from 1964 to 1991. UNIP helped print the first CANU membership cards and organise the constitution. Subsequently, 1 000 CANU membership cards were printed in Lusaka, with the first sold to president Kaunda.
In Lusaka, during talks with the UN and UNIP, Simbwaye was introduced to Swapo. He was advised to broaden CANU’s aims to include Southwest Africa’s independence, as the UN supported broad nationalist movements over regionalist parties. Sam Nujoma recalls meeting Simbwaye in 1964 and proposing a merger to reduce the number of political parties, but Simbwaye said he needed to consult colleagues first.
Simbwaye returned to Caprivi in March 1964 and was arrested in July before speaking at CANU’s first public meeting at Mafulo. He was charged with illegal departure and organising an unauthorised meeting and received a three-month sentence at Windhoek Central Prison. After release, he was banned from re-entering Caprivi without approval and restricted to Warmbad, then Khorixas, in a small prison. Following his arrest, CANU regrouped in Zambia under Muyongo, who merged it into Swapo in November 1964. Despite detention, Simbwaye was appointed Swapo vice president.
In 1970, Simbwaye faced a secret trial in Pretoria for terrorism and disappeared after returning to Caprivi. He’s believed to have been secretly killed and buried in 1972 at age 38. His legacy still influences us 54 years later.
In the Caprivi Strip, CANU’s headquarters was in Mafulo, an encampment with a thatched ‘Freedom House’ serving as an administrative office. Mafulo, possibly the first proper African township of Katima Mulilo, attracted many for trading, selling fish, produce, or wares from the countryside, or doing nothing. Its lack of control fostered lawlessness that benefited CANU’s aims of mobilisation and spreading ill-will against the administration. Kruger notes that CANU exploited this situation.
Brenden Simbwaye was arrested at Mafulo by apartheid police. Mafulo is near the University of Namibia Katima Mulilo Campus, making it fitting to name the campus after him. The name will inspire pride, identity, and support academic freedom. Universities aim to share knowledge, advance research, and prepare citizens. Brenden Simbwaye embodied these values, even sacrificing his life for them. Universities challenge intellectual limits, and his study of teaching qualifications was a rare achievement.
They also promote open debate, cultural growth, and independent thought. Naming the university after him honours his life dedicated to protecting teachers’ and students’ rights to explore and question freely.
In African society, names hold spiritual, historical, political, cultural, and strategic importance. Renaming the University of Namibia Katima Mulilo Campus after Brenden Simbwaye, reflecting its educational focus, would honour its legacy. His name is part of the nation’s history.
Brenden Kangongolo Simbwaye once said in prison, ‘if you were in my shoes, you’d feel it is intellectual massacre, mental oppression, and moral torture to keep an elite detained secretly and indefinitely without legal help’ (Simbwaye in a letter to Advocate Israel Goldblatt, June 10, 1969). These words illustrate why universities exist: to prevent intellectual massacre and free citizens mentally.
It is commendable that the government, recognising his moral and historical significance, gave Simbwaye a symbolic grave at Heroes Acre, honouring his unmatched political contribution to Namibia.
May Brenden Simbwaye’s spirit inspire our fight against tribalism, regionalism and corruption.
Son of the soil.
****Sinvula wa Mudabeti is a Namibian educator, writer, social justice ambassador, human rights champion, and public commentator. His professional work has spanned education, language development, academic research, and community advocacy. ***
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