Festus Hamalwa
Auleria Wakudumo
OMUTHIYA – President Nangolo Mbumba says the relentless efforts made by the heroes and heroines of the liberation struggle for Namibia’s freedom must be valued and appreciated. He said without their contribution during the days of the struggle, freedom and independence would have been a mirage.
“On this significant day, we have gathered to pay tribute to and salute those gallant sons and daughters who fought for Namibia’s independence. Their exploits in pursuit of freedom and independence encapsulate velour, selflessness and sacrifice,” Mbumba said.
Mbumba made these remarks yesterday during the commemoration of Heroes’ Day in Omuthiya, in Oshikoto region. Political, traditional and church leaders, as well as community members gathered to witness the commemoration.
The day was commemorated under the theme ‘Honouring Our Martyrs (Heroes and Heroines)’.
The President said the heroes and heroines are those who etched their names in the annals of history for eternity.
“Their awe-inspiring narratives and
legacies will stand the test of time, as beacons of hope, to be revered and celebrated by generations of Namibians, now and in the decades and centuries to come,” he said.
“Our patriotic duty as free Namibians is to remember those brave men and women who sacrificed greatly for our freedom. We should never forget those who ensured we replaced colonial oppression with democracy, we replaced forced labour with workers’ rights, and racial hatred with reconciliation and nation-building,” he stressed.
The President added: “It is our history and our fight for freedom in the face of adversity that makes us a proud nation built on the sacrosanct principles of liberty, unity, and justice.”
Mbumba urged Namibians to commemorate the struggle for independence and celebrate their sovereignty, “reminding ourselves the freedom did not come on a silver platter.”
“We honour those who defended their motherland by choosing to fight, risking their lives, and in many instances, paying the ultimate price for our freedom. We honour those who suffered imprisonment and torture on Robben Island and other prisons under the brutal apartheid South African regime. We honour those who had to leave their loved ones and homes to go into exile for better education and to fight for a free Namibia,” he emphatically stated.
Mbumba added that there is still a lot to be done to ensure every Namibian benefits from the worthy sacrifices of those who came before them.
“But we should also recognise that we have made good progress in such a short period of time. Our hard-won freedom has enabled us to establish a nation that is founded on the principles of democracy, the rule of law, and justice for all. For the past 34 years, we have honoured the legacy of our heroes and heroines by formulating an institutional framework necessary for representative democratic governance,” he said.
For these reasons, Namibians should treasure the stability and peace and ensure the nation’s resources are utilised in a sustainable manner for the benefit of all citizens.
“Together, as united, peaceful and organised people, we will successfully defend our territorial integrity and resources,” he added.
The President added the government is well aware that there is an urgent need to create wealth and job opportunities for all Namibians, more specifically for the 70% of the population, the youth.
“I have said several times that we should be in a hurry to develop and to grow our economy for each and every citizen to benefit,” Mbumba continued.
The citizens too must proactively empower themselves through education and training to acquire skills to participate in the second struggle for economic freedom, he said.
“In recent years, we have made good progress to develop the green economy for the export of green hydrogen. Equally, the discovery of oil in the offshore Orange Basin and potential development of the Kudu gas fields are set to propel Namibia to becoming a major oil and gas producer in Sub-Saharan Africa. This will unlock many business opportunities for our people,” he said, adding that the future holds great potential for Namibia.
Drought
“At present, we are facing a devastating drought that is affecting every region across the entire country. We cannot ignore it; we cannot escape it. As a result, we must face it together. To this extent, government has announced drought relief assistance, and this has been rolled out countrywide. However, I have received disturbing reports of deaths related to malnutrition, specifically among children in various regions, and have subsequently assigned the Prime Minister to look into this matter and take whatever necessary measures are required to address the drought and hunger situation in our country,” he stressed.
Mbumba also used the platform to urge Namibians to go out en masse to vote on 27 November.
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