OSHAKATI – Dozens of people gathered at Oshakati revenue office to remember and pay homage to the victims of the First National Bank (FNB) bomb blast 26 years ago in which 27 people lost their lives.
Among the attendees was Oshana Regional Governor Clemens Kashuupulwa, who told the gathering that the February 19, 1988 massacre in which the 27 men and women died, while some were maimed and left with permanent scars, would always remain in the memory of most Namibians.
Kashuupulwa said the commemoration was to pay tribute to the people who sacrificed their lives during the liberation struggle. “This is the place where our brothers and sisters were killed by the ill-conceived and murderers from the apartheid system,” said the governor.
Kashuupulwa said that although the culprits in the killing and wounding of FNB staff members and clients had since confessed to their evil deeds, the spirit of forgiveness under the policy of national reconciliation should prevail.
“We interact with some of those that were involved on a daily basis. The elements of Namibian independence were indeed costly and painful. But the victims that died did not die in vain, indeed their blood waters our freedom,” said the regional governor.
Speaking on behalf of the victims, the Chairperson of the Law Reform and Development Commission (LRDC), Sackey Shanghala, who lost his mother in the blast, said the commemoration of the bombing would always be essential to survivors and the families of victims who died on that day. Shanghala said the event allowed victims and families to mourn.
At the same event Shanghala and Kashuupulwa joined the Anglican Church pastor Rev. Lukas Katenda who strongly condemned the recent string of acts of gender based violence (GBV) and brutal murders against innocent and defenceless women that he blamed on today’s family units.
Katenda said families in Namibia are in disarray and that is the reason why cruel murders, corruption, alcohol abuse and a slow pace of development are taking place.
“Everything is a lie in this country, the businesses are based on lies, our marriages are a lie, our homes are a lie, the offspring that we are producing are a lie, and everything is a lie. Families in this country lack leadership, guidance, direction and commitment. There is no love for God.
“As a result we are abusing alcohol. Namibians drink the whole morning, the whole afternoon, they drink in the evening and throughout the night,” said Katenda.
Katenda did not mince words when he said Namibian men are violent and the country is full of murderers, despite the “picture of success, smartness and intelligence that they portray”.
He claimed that the reason why today’s youth have become violent is a result of the ill treatment that they have seen carried out by their fathers towards their mothers.
By Helvy Shaanika