By: Uakutra Kambaekua
The ruling Swapo party, under the leadership of the Kunene region, will on Saturday commemorate the men and women who laid down their lives during the country’s liberation struggle at the Okozongumbati East of Opuwo during 1979-1982.
Namibia commemorates its Heroes Day every year on 26 August in remembering the sacrifices and efforts of those who fought for freedom and self-determination, whilst the ruling party in the region also celebrate the regional heroes and heroines who took up arms in the name of freedom.
Speaking to the Villager newspaper, Swapo’s Kunene regional coordinator Julius Kaujova demonstrated that the day is observed every year out of respect for their fallen heroes. He said that the day is imperative as it commemorates those who sacrifice their lives in the name of the liberation struggle for the country to attain its self-determination and independence.
“The heroes to us are those people who are no more, our fallen heroes who sacrifice their blood, their lives in the name of the liberation struggle of Namibia for us to get our self-determination and independence. This is tracking back to the yesteryears of the German resistance when our forefathers, the torchbearers, people like Tjamuaha Mahaerero, Hendrik Witbooi, Jan-Jonker Afrikaaner, Mandume Ndemufayo, Iipumbu ya-Shilongo, they stood up and resisted against the German occupation,” mentioned Kaujova.
He also said that those fallen heroes birthed today’s freedom and thus should be celebrated and embraced for their efforts, adding that the history of Okozongupati was very brutal, where captioned PLAN fighters were taken to and tortured before being terminated.
“The history of the Okozongumbati is very bitter. It’s very heartbreaking and painful because that side is where our captured PLAN combatants were tortured and brutally killed,” he said.
The area, which is now known as a zone where PLAN unknown soldiers were buried, is said to be inducted as a heroes’ sanctuary, according to Kaujova.
“As a region, we made our submission to the ministry of veteran’s affairs, whose the custodian of the heroes side to be gazetted in Namibia. We are happy to report that the cabinet has looked into our proposal and submission to award Okozongumbati with a status of a heroes shrine so, in the near future, this place will be proclaimed as the Kunene regional heroes shrine in respect of our fallen heroes,” added Kaujova.
