Hertta-Maria Amutenja
The president of the Namibia National Liberation Veterans Association (NNLVA), Ben Shikongo, has cautioned Namibians against insulting national and traditional leaders, saying such conduct threatens the peace achieved through the liberation struggle.
In an interview with the Windhoek Observer, Shikongo said veterans would not allow insults to undermine leadership.
“We are proud of our independence because our independence came from thick and thin, and we must be proud of the Swapo leadership and the PLAN commander for leading this noble undertaking until we got our independence. I know that there are those that are trying to kill the peace of Namibia. They must be reminded that we fought for this country, and we cannot condone these people who are trying to spoil our peace by insulting our national leader and traditional leader,” Shikongo said.
He said President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah has directed Namibians to remain united.
“We are going to spot them out to make sure that our leaders cannot be insulted. We must be united and that is our common object,” he said.
At Katima Mulilo, during the 35th Heroes Day commemoration on Tuesday, veteran of the liberation struggle and former PLAN combatant Patrick Mwampole urged Namibians to reflect on the sacrifices made for independence.
“We know that the struggle was long and bitter and therefore I call upon everyone in the Zambezi region and Namibia as a whole to remember the heroes and heroines of the liberation struggle. Those who sacrificed their lives because their blood watered our freedom. All Namibians, you are encouraged to celebrate this day yearly,” Mwampole said.
Defence and veterans affairs minister Frans Kapofi also addressed the event.
He said peace and unity must remain the foundation of the nation.
“We are one united country and we should ensure our sovereignty remains intact. It is the unity that sustained our struggle; let us do everything in our power to maintain it,” Kapofi said.
He reminded the gathering that Heroes Day marks the start of the armed liberation struggle on 26 August 1966, when the South West Africa Liberation Army (Swala), later renamed the People’s Liberation Army of Namibia (PLAN), fired the first shots at Omugulugwombashe.
“On this day in 1966, the first bullet was fired by Swala at Omugulugwombashe. This act, followed by an attack at the Oshikango border post, signalled the Namibian people’s resolve to reclaim their country, leading to a long and difficult struggle for independence,” Kapofi said.
He recalled that many Namibians went into exile to join the fight, including prominent figures from the Zambezi region such as Greenwell Matongo, Richard Kabajani, Albert Kawana, Lawrence Sampofu, and Charles Mubita.
He further highlighted the 1978 attack on Mpacha Army Base in the Zambezi region as a decisive moment that weakened apartheid forces.
“These decisive attacks carried out in this region signify the vital role of the people of Zambezi in the final total liberation of Namibia,” Kapofi said.
Heroes Day is observed annually on 26 August to honour the heroes of the liberation struggle and to remember those who lost their lives.
Kapofi concluded by urging Namibians, especially the youth, to safeguard the peace achieved.
“The statement of intent was clear: Namibians were determined to free themselves. This decisive action by Swala culminated in a long and bitter struggle,” he said.
