President Hage Geingob and Anton Lubowski

President Hage Geingob and Anton Lubowski shared a profound bond, their friendship a testament to the national unity / TRC. As we mourn ...

President Hage Geingob and Anton Lubowski shared a profound bond, their friendship a testament to the national unity / TRC.

As we mourn President Hage Geinkob let's reflect on this testimony, and remember Anton Lubowski including all those who died in the struggle for justice and national unity. President Hage Geingob and Anton Lubowski were close friends who couldn't go a day without greeting each other. According to an inquest, Lubowski had a last meeting with Geingob on the night of his death. 

On September 12, 1989, just a few months before the national election scheduled for November 1989, bullets fired from a passing-bye car struck Anton Lubowski as he exited his vehicle with a briefcase in one hand, just in front of his home in Windhoek. Lubowski was gunned down at approximately 20:30 on that fateful day as he was about to enter his home at 7 Sanderburg Street, Windhoek, Namibia. 

This happened during the enforcement of Resolution 435 aimed to make it the first democratic election, free and fair in the country. According to various extracts from the inquest findings of Mr. Justice Levy, Lubowski's death, he was shot seven times on his body with an AK-47 rifle and one shot through the head with a different caliber firearm, indicating there were two or multiple shooters. 

A man of faith, Anton Lubowski drew strength from his Christian beliefs, finding solace in the scriptures and embodying the verse from Romans 8:31: "If God is for us, who can be against us?

When he died, Lubowski was 37 years old, leaving behind his wife, Garbielle Lubowski (née Schuster), and his two young children, Almo and Nadia. The assassination of Anton Lubowski took place during the transitional period in Namibia, while Resolution 435 of the United Nations (UNTAG) was being implemented. The UNTAG was actively deployed inside the country from April 1, 1989, occupying military bases and monitoring certain police activity in the country.

In the annals of history, some stories echo through generations, serving as reminders of the human toll of political violence and the enduring quest for justice. The assassination of Anton Lubowski is one such narrative, a poignant testament to our hard and bitter struggle. 

Who is Anton Lubowski

Anton Theodor August Wilfried Lubowski, born on February 3, 1953, in South West Africa (now Namibia), was the second child of Wilfried Franz and Molly Lubowski. He held a significant place in the Lubowski family as the first boy in the fifth generation. At age 13, Lubowski was sent to Stellenbosch to study law, later graduating from the University of Cape Town with an LL.B. degree in 1970. Following his studies, he fulfilled compulsory military service, as was required for all young, white males at the time.

Afterward, Lubowski worked as an Articled Clerk in Windhoek and became a member of the law firm, Lorentz and Bone, in 1978. He joined the Windhoek Bar in 1980 and was elected to the Luderitz Foundation Regional Committee, where he focused on the economic improvement of the town. It was during this period that he became politically active, representing SWAPO freedom fighters, who were regarded as terrorists. 

While initially joining the Namibia National Front (NNF) in 1979, Lubowski swiftly gravitated towards SWAPO (South West African Peoples Organisation). His father noted that Lubowski's shift towards SWAPO occurred shortly after visiting a Black client in jail upon instructions from the law firm. Although Lubowski recognized similarities between the NNF and SWAPO, he discerned that the former advocated for a mixed economy while the latter leaned towards socialism. 

Cde Andimba Toivo ya Toivo, President Hage Geingob met Anton Lubowski on 18 June 1989.

As a legal advocate, Lubowski served as a member of the Windhoek Bar, defending political prisoners and engaging with the Namibian trade union movement and the administration of the National Union of Namibian Workers (NUNW). He officially joined SWAPO in 1984, crossing racial divides. While holding no official party position before 1989, Lubowski frequently made public statements on behalf of SWAPO. Notably, he initiated the NAMLAW Project, a legal research organization tasked with drafting legislation for Namibia post-independence. 

Lubowski's dedication to human rights earned him the Austrian Bruno Kreisky Prize. Throughout his activism with SWAPO, he faced detention six times by South African authorities. In 1989, he assumed the role of Deputy Secretary for Finance and Administration in the SWAPO Election Directorate. Shortly before his untimely death, he was elected to the SWAPO Central Committee.

Assassination

The day after the assassination of Anton Lubowski, on the 13th of September 1989, an Irish mercenary, Donald Acheson, was arrested for the murder. Acheson was a hardened soldier who served in the Rhodesian Army's commando battalion and was hired by the South African Defence Force Intelligence. Acheson appeared in the High Court of Namibia charged with murder on the 18th of April 1990. 

Donald Acheson himself testified that he had no personal motive to kill Anton Lubowski but acted under the direction of the South African Civil Cooperation Bureau (CCB), a clandestine unit of the South African Defence Force Intelligence. 

The CCB was established to disrupt the UNTAG transition process in Namibia and even assassinate SWAPO leading political figures, including Sam Nujoma. On the first day Sam Nujoma attempted to land in Namibia, a shot was fired at his plane, causing it to abort the landing. According to intelligence archives, the gunfire was perpetrated by Immanuel ya Ngengombe, an ex-Koevet who was directly acting on the instructions of the CCB. On 1 April 1989, during the UN-monitored transition period, many SWAPO PLAN fighters died upon their arrival in Namibia, falling into traps laid by the South African forces, who disobeyed the UN order of demilitarisation.

The most ruthless members of the Civil Co-operation Bureau (CCB) who were allegedly involved in plotting Anton Lubowski's murder, are Ferdinand Barnard, Leon Andre Marais, Daniel Ferdinand du Toit, known as Staal Burger, Wouter Jacobus Basson, Johan Niemoller, Karel - Calla Botha, Pieter Johan Verster, Abraham van Zyl. This story was reported in the local newspaper, The Namibian, which article was published on the 17th of May 1993, concerning state agents' involvement in the assassination. 

The Prosecutor-General, Advocate Hans Heyman, however, applied for a postponement of the case and for Acheson to be remanded in custody. The postponement was sought on the basis that the Prosecutor-General wanted to join the co-accused in the case who were both South African citizens, but there were various difficulties in securing their attendance at the trial in Windhoek. 

The court granted a postponement of the matter until the 7th of May 1990 to enable the Prosecutor to produce evidence of the diplomatic initiatives which were taken to procure the attendance in the Court of the said assassins. The prosecution could not produce any such evidence and the murder was consequently withdrawn against Acheson. All these assassins mentioned here were given amnesty under Justice Minister Dullah Omar and the murder case was withdrawn.  Acheson was eventually deported to Ireland and South African murderers were sent to Rhoodepoort where they lived in high life as a reward.

Anton established himself as a fighter in the Namibian Liberation Struggle and, at great personal sacrifice, fought fearlessly for that cause. For several years, Anton Lubowski had been harassed by the apartheid authorities. As an advocate, he was involved in a large number of so-called terrorist cases. However, he also took a leading part in the political struggle. 

He addressed meetings and marched with demonstrators. He represented SWAPO in 1984 at the Peace Summit in Lusaka and announced his membership in SWAPO, encouraging other white people to follow his example. He was detained by the Security Police six times, including a period in solitary confinement in 1987.

His professional career as an advocate was marked by a fierce commitment to defending the oppressed and challenging the oppressive regime. Anton's work brought him face to face with the harrowing realities of torture and injustice inflicted upon SWAPO supporters by the Security Forces. The atrocities he witnessed weighed heavily on his conscience, yet fueled his determination to fight against apartheid's injustices. 

As Anton's advocacy grew more vocal and his involvement with SWAPO became public, he became a target of threats and intimidation. Mrs. Lubowski recounted chilling warnings received by her family, foretelling her son's fate with grim certainty. Threatening calls, menacing pamphlets, and constant surveillance became a haunting reality for Anton and his loved ones. 

Despite the mounting dangers, Anton remained resolute in his pursuit of justice, knowing full well the risks he faced. His unwavering commitment to the cause of freedom and equality ultimately led to his tragic assassination, plunging his family into a sea of sorrow and despair. Anton faced increasingly dire circumstances. He was ostracized socially, and labeled as a traitor to his own community. Yet, he remained steadfast in his commitment to justice and equality. 

He faced threats on his life, including a narrow escape where he was shot delivering food to impoverished black communities. Despite being thrown into prison alongside SWAPO members for his activism, Anton refused to be silenced. He endured inhumane conditions, was deprived of basic necessities, and was subjected to solitary confinement. The intent was clear: to break his spirit and silence his voice. Anton's activism posed a threat to those in power. 

Quest for justice

On the solemn day of April 24, 1996, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission gathered to bear witness to the testimony of a grieving mother, who courageously stepped forward to recount the tragic assassination of her son, Anton Lubowski. Molly Lubowski stood before the Commission Denzil Potgieter and her voice was steady despite the weight of his words. 

Molly recounted the events surrounding the assassination of Anton Lubowski. As she spoke, the room fell silent, each word carrying the weight of a family's grief and a nation's struggle for truth and justice. As we reflect on their testimony, let us honor the memory of Anton Lubowski and all those who have fought for Namibia's independence. And let us reaffirm our commitment to building a country where justice, truth, and unity reign supreme.

A man of faith, Anton Lubowski drew strength from his Christian beliefs, finding solace in the scriptures and embodying the verse from Romans 8:31: "If God is for us, who can be against us?" With compassion and resilience, she shared her son's journey, a path marked by unwavering dedication to justice and opposition to apartheid.

President Hage's witness

The death of President Hage Geingob has brought disappointment to the Lubowski family, as they had hoped to finally uncover the truth behind Anton Lubowski's assassination. As we said earlier Lubowski had a last meeting with Geingob on the night of his death.

The family now grapples with the realization that they may never uncover the full truth behind Anton's assassination. With Geingob's passing, their hopes for closure and reconciliation have been dashed, leaving them to rely on faith for comfort and acceptance. 

Gabrielle Lubowski expressed her family's disappointment, stating that they had anticipated meeting with Geingob in 2024 to discuss the details of his final encounter with Lubowski. They had hoped Geingob would reveal the sensitive information that was shared between him and Anton during their dinner meeting in Windhoek.

In an open letter to Geingob in 2019, Gabrielle questioned the secrecy surrounding their conversation and the events leading up to Lubowski's death. She had hoped that a conversation with Geingob would provide closure and acknowledgment of the pain and suffering endured by the family over the years. Geingob had consistently denied any involvement in Anton's murder, dismissing Gabrielle's claims as absurd. 

The death of Anton Lubowski has raised some spectacular claims that he was a South African spy, a stooge of the Apartheid regime, a secret double-agent, and was killed by SWAPO terrorists. At a Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) hearing in South Africa, veteran investigative journalist from South Africa, Max du Preez, countered such claims, calling these accusations smear campaigns of the old South African regime. Anton Lubowski was an advocate and a die-hard member of SWAPO. 

Such claims circulated by the South African regime, however, were quelled in various books and publications. Riaan Labuschagne in his book ‘South Africa’s Secret Service – An Undercover Agent’s Story’ in early 2000 wrote that Lubowski was not a spy of the South African military intelligence as was alleged by the former South African Minister of Defence, Magnus Malan, to shift the blame on SWAPO.