MARIENTAL – Nobody chooses the destiny of war, but when faced with no choice but to fight for freedom, a true soldier never flees from conflict. Those who fought for the independence of Namibia laid a solid foundation of unity and sacrifice, and the onus now lies with the nation to continue the march to fulfill the ideals which spurred them to patriotic action.

“When the gallant sons and daughters of our land realised that Namibians would have to become their own liberators, they set a date with struggle and with fate,” President Hage Geingob told a large crowd who gathered in Mariental
to celebrate this year’s Heroes Day on Friday.

The Head of State added that these heroes and heroines, when accepting that there is no easy road to freedom, engaged in a long and bitter conflict to free themselves and their compatriots from the brutal chains of apartheid colonialism.  

“Today, we have gathered here in Mariental, the heart of the Hardap Region, to remember and pay tribute to those men and women who engaged in great feats of heroism and sacrifice,” said Geingob. 

Thousands of people from across the country gathered from as early as 06h00 at the Mariental Showgrounds to commemorate the annual day.

Spectators clad in a variety of colourful traditional attires which predominantly resembled those of the Nama tribe were entertained by the Namibian Police band, while they waited for the dignitaries to arrive. Among the dignitaries were Vice President Nangolo Mbumba, Prime Minister Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila, as well as Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of International Relations Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah. Heroes Day commemorates the battle of Omugulugwombashe, which took place on 26 August 1966 when South African soldiers attacked the Namibian People’s Liberation Army (PLAN), marking the beginning of Namibia’s liberation struggle.

Yvonne Dausab, minister of justice, directed the event.

The president said the South African regime and its dehumanising brutal official policy of apartheid denied all black Namibians basic human rights and freedom of speech, association, development and proper education. Namibians were used as cheap labour and paid paltry wages. 

They were considered as second-class citizens in their own country of birth, and denied the right to reside wherever they wanted.  

“What was taken by force can only be restored by force,” said the Head of State.

He added that although Namibians can stand proudly as a people of a sovereign and independent nation, they should remember if history and current international events are anything to go by that national sovereignty is not guaranteed. 

“As I often warn, it is easy to destroy, but not easy to rebuild. Peace is a wonderful gift, but is a fragile one as well. Therefore, for us to maintain peace and unity in our independent Namibia, it requires each one of us to bury the hatchet, banish grudges, and don the garments of blue, green, red, white and yellow,” he emphasised. 

Geingob reminded Namibians that they should appreciate the fact that the country’s successful struggle for freedom was achieved through holding hands by like-minded patriots, who understood the value of independence and cherished it
above everything else. 

“They originated from all 14 regions of this country, crossing the barriers of the apartheid-imposed tribal Bantustans, and uniting as one people against oppression,” he continued.  

He also urged Namibians to never surrender or waiver as they invoked the indomitable spirit of these valiant heroes by committing to safeguard the freedoms for which they fought and died. 

“Thus, the best way we can honour our heroes and pay homage to their immense sacrifices for Namibia’s freedom is to
 inculcate within our society the intrinsic forces that buttress our unity, and to purge the foreign superimposed influences that
keep us apart,” he noted. 

“It is only the Namibian people who can usher in the dawn of economic liberation. Let us not despair and surrender to a sense of helplessness as we face economic issues today. Now is the time to redouble our
efforts to confront these issues head-on until we are able to liberate our nation from the shackles of economic enslavement.

As we observe Heroes Day, let us tap into the spirit of those who stood up against colonial oppression, let us emulate their zeal, patriotism, their bravery and unwavering determination so that we redouble our efforts and continue the march towards building a Namibia that will stand strong, a Namibia that is united, a Namibia that is peaceful, and a Namibia that will be prosperous for many years to come,” he reiterated.

-Additional reporting by Nampa