Former Chief of Defence Lieutenant General (Rtd) Solomon "Jesus" Hawala was buried at the Old Ongwediva Lutheran cemetery in the Oshana Region.
President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, in her farewell speech, said Hawala was a key figure in Namibia's liberation struggle, a dedicated servant of the nation whose loss left an irreplaceable void.
"Comrade Hawala's legacy is deeply imprinted in the record of our history, a testament to his unwavering commitment to freedom, justice and the self-determination of our people. Comrade Hawala was one of the principled Namibians who, during the difficult times of our struggle for freedom and independence, stood firm in our fight against the colonial apartheid regime."
Dr. Nandi-Ndaitwah said the nation is bidding farewell to a dedicated and patriotic hero whose departure is a bitter pill to swallow.
She added that Namibians should honour his memory by renewing their commitment to unity and nation building and safeguarding the country's sovereignty.
"In his legacy lies a call to all of us to defend peace, to pursue prosperity for every Namibian and to remain faithful to the values for which he and his comrades fought. We will remember him not only for his military achievements but also for his wisdom and unwavering commitment to national unity and socio-economic development in an independent Namibia."
President Nandi-Ndaitwah explained why the late Hawala, who was accorded national hero status, was not buried at a Heroes Shrine.
"It should not be a surprise that I conferred on him the status of national hero, and he is being buried at this cemetery and not at the heroes' shrine. It was his expressed wish that his remains would be buried here, where his parents were laid to rest. As we always do, the government respects the wishes of the deceased, which, to a certain extent, are cultural, and their families, in terms of where they would want to be laid to rest."
As the late Hawala's casket was lowered, it was accompanied by a 15-gun salute.
Hawala is survived by his wife, Laimi, and six children.