WINDHOEK ELVIS MURARANGANDA
The body of the late Namibia's ambassador to Austria, Raphael Dinyando, who died last week, is expected to arrive back in Namibia on Thursday.
Sources close the late ambassador's family told Namibian Sun that the presidential Falcon jet will leave for Austria today at 07:00 with officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and two family members to collect Dinyando's body.
The two relatives are said to be Dinyando's younger brother, Joe Dinyando, and a brother in-law, Thomas Nyambe.
Upon enquiry, the minister of presidential affairs, Dr Albert Kawana, yesterday said he had not yet been informed whether President Hifikepunye Pohamba would accord Dinyando a State or official funeral.
"All I know is that they are still busy with consultations with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs," said Kawana.
Sources indicated that a memorial service and the funeral are expected to be held this weekend at Divundu in the Kavango East Region.
Dinyando died in a hospital in Vienna, Austria, on September 4. The 53-year-old diplomat was the first mayor of Rundu in 1992, after which Pohamba appointed him as deputy minister of information in 2005.
In 2010, he was appointed as ambassador to Austria. He is survived by his wife and four children.