Dumeni Solomon "Jesus" Hawala (19 August 1935[1] – 11 August 2025) was a Namibian Army lieutenant general. Hawala was the deputy commander of the People's Liberation Army of Namibia before independence. He earned the nickname "Butcher of Lubango" for allegedly running detainee camps of SWAPO opponents in the southern Angolan city of Lubango during the Namibian War of Independence.[2][3] Upon independence in 1990, Hawala was appointed Army Commander in the Namibian Defence Force (NDF). In 2000 he replaced Dimo Hamaambo as head of the NDF. He retired in October 2006 and was replaced by Martin Shalli.[4]
Solomon Hawala | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Dumeni Solomon Hawala |
| Born | 19 August 1935 South West Africa |
| Died | 11 August 2025 (aged 89) |
| Allegiance | People's Liberation Army of Namibia |
| Rank | Lieutenant General |
| Battles / wars | Namibian War of Independence |
| Head of the Namibian Defence Force | |
| In office 2000 – October 2006 | |
| Army Commander of the Namibian Defence Force | |
| In office 1990–2000 | |
| Preceded by | Dimo Hamaambo |
| Succeeded by | Martin Shalli |
Huwala died on 11 August 2025, at the age of 89.[5]
References
edit- ^ Death Notice of Lieutenant General (Rtd) Dumeni Solomon Hawala "Jesus", Ministry of Defence and Veteran Affairs, 11 August 2025.
- ^ Namibian Election Rivals Say Swapo Tortured Its Prisoners The New York Times, September 20, 1989
- ^ Heidi von Egidy (23 October 1990): Namibia names as Army Boss Ex-Guerrilla Chief Accused of Torture, Associated Press
- ^ Shalli New NDF Chief New Era, 23 October 2006
- ^ "Former Namibian Defence Force Chief Solomon 'Jesus' Hawala Dies at 89". Ekiti News. 11 August 2025. Retrieved 12 August 2025.