Remembering Anton Lubowski

A proposal to rename the Lüderitz Airport and the main street (Bismarck Street) of the harbour town after the late anti-apartheid activist, Anton Lubowski, is gaining traction. 

 “Honouring Lubowski (RIP) in such a visible and permanent manner will not only preserve his legacy but will also serve as an educational and inspirational symbol for future generations. “It will ensure that the youth of Namibia, and particularly those in Lüderitz, grow up with a clear understanding of the sacrifices made for their freedom and the individuals who shaped the nation’s history. Your support and active involvement in this matter will be instrumental in bringing this long-overdue recognition to fruition,” says community activist Ndeshipanda Akwenye, the man behind the idea.

Akwenye informed the Lüderitz community of the initiative in honour of Lubowski on 14 April, stating that he strongly believes that these acts of recognition are long overdue, particularly given Lüderitz’s connection to his early life and heritage. “This proposal seeks to honour the legacy and contributions of Anton Lubowski. Some (most) are for and others are against the idea. A community consultation session is being planned. Such honours would not only preserve his legacy but also serve as an enduring reminder to future generations of the sacrifices made for Namibia’s freedom,” he said on social media.

Akwenye further emphasised that the late Anton Lubowski played a pivotal role in advancing Namibia’s liberation by providing critical legal support, advocacy, and strategic assistance to those who fought for freedom. “His unwavering commitment to justice, equality, and the dismantling of apartheid structures contributed meaningfully to the realization of an independent Namibia. Through his courageous actions and dedication, he helped lay the foundation for the Namibia we know today,” he said.

Endorsed - Akwenye submitted the proposal accompanied by an endorsement and blessing letter from Gabrielle Lubowski (wife) in support of this initiative to relevant authorities, including the Office of the President, the Lüderitz SWAPO Party Branch Office, and the Office of the CEO of the Lüderitz Town Council.

He started a dialogue approximately five years ago with Lubowski’s wife, Gabrielle, and discovered that there are streets named after Lubowski in Windhoek and Swakopmund. “My mother and the elders always talked about Lubowski’s life in Luderitz. He was the white man who stood up for the rights of black persons in a state controlled by white supremacists. I became obsessed with wanting to know who killed him. My sister realised this and advised me to rather do something to honour his legacy. I cannot allow his memory to fade," Akwenye said. 

Gabrielle endorsed the initiative to honour Anton by naming a street and even the airport in Luderitz after him. “Anton Lubowski was born in Luderitz on 3 February 1952. His vision was that every Namibian must be free, receive quality education and skills training to build wealth and live a good, fulfilled life. Anton chose negation (instead of accumulation) and sacrifice. Shortly before his death, he said to his sister Joleen: "Even if I have to die, Namibia will have peace. His brutal and callous murder ushered in peace, as it stopped the civil war that was about to erupt in Namibia,” Gabrielle wrote. 

Son of the soil - Born in Lüderitz on 3 February 1952 and assassinated on 12 September 1989 in Windhoek, Lubowski was a Namibian anti-apartheid activist, an advocate and a member of the South West Africa People's Organisation. He was the first white member of SWAPO and, in the late 1980s, was jailed on counts of sabotage and propagating violence.  

“Lubowski was a distinguished Namibian lawyer, freedom fighter, and committed advocate for justice and equality. During Namibia’s liberation struggle, he played a pivotal role in opposing apartheid and was actively involved in advancing the cause of independence. His dedication to the nation ultimately cost him his life shortly before Namibia gained independence. His legacy remains one of courage, patriotism, and unwavering commitment to the principles upon which our nation was founded,” Akwenye highlighted. 

Peacemaker - Lubowski was awarded the Bruno Kreisky Prize for Human Rights in 1988. The laureates of the biennial award created in October 1976 on the occasion of the 65th birthday of Bruno Kreisky are rewarded for their achievements in the field of human rights. Prominent recipients have included Kofi Annan, Asli Erdogan, Daniel Barenboim, and organisations like Al-Haq.

Gabrielle remembers Anton as the man who put his hand to the plough and never looked back to free Namibia of the cruel, unjust, oppressive and exploitative South African Apartheid rule. “He was instrumental in making Resolution 435 a reality and not just a piece of paper. Anton initiated the NAMLAW project, a legal research consortium tasked with drafting the constitution and statutory framework for independent Namibia. He was demonstrating that SWAPO was a sophisticated political entity capable of governance and not just a terrorist organisation. He was also working on an economic plan to give local business people the opportunity to benefit from Namibia's resources, including diamonds, fish, uranium, etc.," she said.