SINGALAMWE – The two sons and grandchildren of Josephat Linyalo, who left the country for Zambia during Namibia’s liberation struggle, were finally reunited with their relatives at Singalamwe in the Kongola constituency recently.
Linyalo Nakakena aged 32 years, his wife, two children as well as his elder brother Linyalo Kumunwa Sobozi aged 41 years, his wife and ten children were repatriated to Namibia after spending more than half of their lives in that country. Their father Josephat Linyalo who left the country in 1968 died in Zambia complicating further their return home after Namibia attained its independence in 1990. It’s not clear what year he died although he is said to have died of natural causes.
Sibbinda constituency councillor, Ignatius Chunga, who represented Zambezi regional governor Lawrence Sampofu during the welcoming of the returnees, hailed the government of Zambia for its support during the liberation struggle, saying that Zambia was a safe haven for many Namibians who feared persecution by the apartheid regime and many of them got married to Zambian nationals.
“It remains a fact that the government of Zambia provided shelter to thousands of Namibian freedom fighters during the bitter and protracted armed liberation struggle against the brutal colonialist and racist regime. It is a fact also that while at the battle front, some freedom fighters produced second generation freedom fighters through marriage,” said Chunga.
Chunga was also happy that the Zambian government has made efforts to make the voluntary repatriation possible. “I further commend the government of Zambia for hosting our brothers and sisters while deciding on voluntary repatriation and for ending the protracted refugee situation of these returnees”, said Chunga.
The Namibian commissioner for refugees, Nkrumah Mushelenga, said the process of repatriation for the returnees only began six weeks ago upon receiving a directive from the chairperson of the Namibia/Zambia Joint Permanent Commission on Defence and Security and the ministers of defence of both countries. Mushelenga promised that the returnees would be issued with national documents and that their integration in the mainstream society and economy has already started.
“Let me assure the returnees that they will be issued with national documents and that all school-going children will be registered to enable them to continue with their studies and that all of them will be socially, economically and culturally re-integrated into the community in the areas of their choice. You are welcome back to Namibia, the land of your forefathers,” said Mushelenga. “Their documents are still in Zambia and as soon as they get here they will be handed to our civic affairs [department] so that they start the process of converting them into our national documents,” said Mushelenga
Given the high unemployment rate in the country, Mushelenga appealed to the returnees to use their acquired skills to their full potential in order to remain competitive and be able to generate an income. “I am informed that some of you have acquired unique social, economic and cultural skills and expertise while in exile. Your country Namibia is expecting you to turn those skills and expertise into useful tools through innovation and creativity,” appealed Mushelenga.
It was tears of joy for the two sisters of Josephat Linyalo who remained inside Namibia and who had over the years patiently waited for this moment to arrive after they learnt that their elder brother had started a family in Zambia. “I feel very happy for them to be repatriated back home. It’s not only these kids, more people are still left in Zambia. We welcome them with open arms. Our brother suffered a lot during the liberation struggle,” said the eldest sister Agnes Linyalo. The repatriation was also witnessed by the commissioner of refugees in Zambia, Jacob Mphepo, among other dignitaries.