Luanda – Namibia’s Ambassador to Angola, Grace Uushona, has nothing but praises for the Angolan government and the pivotal role it played in ensuring that Namibia attains its own independence by waging its liberation struggle from Angolan soil.
During a reception held to celebrate the belated 25th anniversary of Namibia’s independence at the Dr Agostinho Neto Memorial in Luanda, Uushona narrated how Angola provided unconditional and unwavering support to Namibia and its people during the long and bitter struggle to liberate Namibia from yoke of colonialism.
“Many Angolan lives were lost, infrastructure destroyed and the Angolan economy negatively affected. Despite these horrific actions, Angola stood firm until the total freedom of the entire region was achieved,” Uushona looked back.
Namibia’s 25th Independence anniversary coincided with the commemoration of the 27th anniversary of the historic battle of Cuito Cuanavale where combatants of FAPLA, Cuban Internationalist forces and Swapo combatants fiercely engaged the apartheid South African army, subsequently forcing it to accept the unconditional implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 435, which paved the way for Namibia’s independence.
“Following the attainment of peace in our region, Angola has embarked on a path of national reconstruction and rehabilitation,” she said.
“We see a new Angola, in which many roads, bridges, houses, schools and hospitals have been built and renovated across the country.
“Peace and stability in Angola is irreversible. We therefore congratulate the government of Angola for this great achievement,” she hailed her host government.
“The bilateral relations between our two countries continue to be cordial and excellent. Sessions of the Namibia-Angola Joint Commission of Cooperation and the Joint Commission on Defence and Security take place regularly and cover a wide range of areas such as water, energy, trade, health, immigration, law enforcement, education, agriculture, just to mention a few, thereby enhancing cooperation between the two countries,” she said.
While trade volumes have not been at the desired level, Uushona said there is great potential for business people from both countries to explore.
“I, therefore, invite our business people and entrepreneurs from both countries to tap into the abundant opportunities existing in Angola and Namibia,” Uushona further stated.
At the end of her speech, Uushona proposed for a toast to the continued good health of Angola’s President Eduardo dos Santos and his Namibian counterpart Dr Hage Geingob, and to long-lasting friendship and solidarity between Angola and Namibia.
“I wish to reaffirm our commitment to further strengthening the fraternal bilateral relations existing between Angola and Namibia,” pledged Uushona.