By: Patemoshela Lukolo
Namibia marked the 59th anniversary of the start of the Namibian War of Independence yesterday with a solemn national commemoration in Katima Mulilo, where President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah delivered a call for unity, peace, and socio-economic transformation.
The event, attended by senior government officials, traditional leaders, veterans of the liberation struggle, and delegations from Zambia and Botswana, honored the sacrifices of Namibia’s fallen heroes and heroines while reaffirming the nation’s commitment to building a prosperous future.
In her keynote address, President Nandi-Ndaitwah reflected on the country’s progress since independence.
She noted that while many challenges remain, Namibia has made “remarkable strides in socio-economic development, transforming lives and building a foundation for prosperity.”
Nandi-Ndaitwah pointed to improved infrastructure, expanded road networks linking Zambezi to neighbouring countries, and access to schools, clinics, water, and electricity as evidence of developmental gains.
“Development is a process,” she said. “At independence, it was not easy to reach Katima Mulilo. Today, from the border with South Africa to Katima Mulilo, you are on a tarred road,” she noted.
The President highlighted that her administration, guided by her party principles and the Sixth National Development Plan (NDP 6), is determined to accelerate industrialisation, resource beneficiation, youth empowerment, and the fight against corruption.
She announced the imminent launch of the National Youth Fund, which will finance job-creating and economically viable projects. However, she cautioned beneficiaries and officials against abuse.
“Please consider projects that make economic sense, not those presented by people you know, even if you can see the project is not viable,” she urged.
On the theme of peace and unity, President Nandi-Ndaitwah warned that Namibia risks “a crusade for self-destruction” if citizens fail to uplift each other and resolve disputes with tolerance and respect.
She appealed to leaders across political, religious, community, and civic spheres to work together for sustainable development, saying, “Trust is the heart of our democracy. Without it, despair can breed actions that threaten the very fabric of our society.”
Turning to the global stage, she contrasted Namibia’s peace with the suffering caused by wars elsewhere, particularly for women and children.
“War is the worst situation to live in,” she said. “As a nation, we must preserve our peace at all costs,” she urged.
The President reiterated her government’s zero-tolerance stance on corruption, describing it as “a betrayal of trust” and equating it to treason.
“With the natural resources at our disposal, we must make a commitment to ensure that every Namibian is living a decent life. We are too few to be poor,” she remarked.
She also saluted the solidarity of African nations and global allies during the liberation struggle, paying tribute to Angola, Zambia, Tanzania, Botswana, Cuba, and others for their unwavering support. With that, she welcomed the presence of the Zambian and Botswana delegations at the ceremony, calling for stronger regional cooperation in pursuit of Africa’s development.
In her tribute to fallen heroes, Nandi-Ndaitwah honored historic figures such as Hendrik Witbooi, Hosea Kutako, Kakurukaze Mungunda, and Tobias Hainyeko, while also noting that future generations of heroes will emerge from fields such as science, innovation, and discovery.
She announced that the late Lieutenant General Salomon Dumeni Hawala, a former liberation commander and second Chief of the Defence Force, will be laid to rest as a national hero on 6 September.
Closing her address, the President praised the unity of traditional leaders in the Zambezi Region, urging Namibians to emulate their example. “If our leaders are united, why not we, their subjects? Let us follow their good example,” she encouraged.
Nandi-Ndaitwah added that as the nation renews its commitment to the vision of the heroes and heroines, “we must build a Namibia that reflects their dreams of inclusivity, equity, and prosperity for all, as their blood waters our freedom. One Namibia, one nation!”
