The former manager of the Namibian Broadcasting Corporation's (NBC) Funkhaus, Lucia Engombe, has died aged 53.

Engombe's death was confirmed by a close family member, who said she died following an illness at the Oshakati State Hospital.

The NBC expressed condolences over the death of the former long-serving employee, Engombe.

Engombe started her employment with the national broadcaster in 2000 as an assistant producer in the religious section.

3 years later she was permanently employed as a German Radio Service producer, rising in rank in 2010 to senior producer.

In 2015, Engombe was appointed manager in an acting capacity for the German Service, with the following year being substantive in that position. 

She served in that capacity in the German Service, now known as Funkhaus, for 5 years until her resignation after serving the corporation for 17 years. 

National FM's manager Franlin Thomas remembers the late Engombe.

"She was a good-hearted, deeply religious person who always took the time to chat with people in the corridors of NBC. Whether she knew you or not, it did not matter to her. She was for me the epitome of human decency. Always asking people how they are and how their families are, and gladly she would voluntarily pray for people who wanted or needed prayer."

Thomas recalls her as a hard-working individual.

"She would often spend hours on end at the office to make sure the work got done." 

nbc's Drama School Operations manager, Chrisjan Appolus, also paid tribute to the late Engombe. 

"Lucia was one of the greatest people whose path I have crossed. I would remember the greatest gift she has given me, a bible. telling me I need to read this and be guided and live a life of fear of life of God's calling. The most interesting part of her is when I was in the union, she would call me, and I would think it's all concerns about herself, but she would then say, 'No, it's not about me; it's about colleagues and their working environment.' Chris, you need to do something about it. And such a caring person she was by nature. And today I can only remember the great laughter and the great teachings I received from her. 

Engombe was among the hundreds of Namibian children who were sent to the German Democratic Republic (GDR) between the late 1970s and 1980s for upbringing and training during the liberation struggle.

She authored a book titled Kind Nr. 95 about her experience in socialist Germany. 

She is survived by her siblings.

Memorial and funeral arrangements are not yet known.