GROOTFONTEIN – Retired chief of the Namibian Defence Force, Lieutenant General Martin Shalli, yesterday said it would have been difficult for the country to launch a successful military confrontation against the apartheid regime had it not been for late Founding President Sam Nujoma’s fearlessness, determination and bravery.
He made the remarks during the official regional memorial service by Otjozondjupa, held in Nujoma’s honour in Grootfontein.
Shalli, who served as chief of defence between 2006 and 2011 and was part of Swapo’s military wing, the People’s Liberation Army of Namibia (Plan) in the 70s in exile, said the South African apartheid regime had its hands full with Nujoma, as it failed to stop him from marching Namibians towards independence.
“There were occasions when they [apartheid regime] arrested Nujoma, but failed to put him away permanently. Attempts were also made on his life, but Nujoma was always ahead of them, and that’s how he managed to push the fight for independence forward. The racist regime could not keep up with him, and by the time they realised, our struggle for freedom had already reached the global stage, and Nujoma had the world’s support,” said Shalli.
Fearless
The former army chief stated that had it not been for Nujoma’s vigilance and fearlessness, the country’s struggle for freedom would have been stuck in the diplomatic phase for many more decades, but thanks to the leader, Namibians finally understood why they had to launch an armed struggle.
“We managed to launch a successful military confrontation against the racist regime of South Africa because of the visionary leadership of Nujoma, and through his steadfastness, our international friends such as Cuba, the Soviet Union and many others understood our struggle and threw their weight behind our fight. Namibia gained friends across the world, and it was because of our late commander Nujoma. The racist regime finally understood that they were not going to win the fight, and that we will have to be free at that point. Today, Namibia is free and will be free forever,” he stressed.
Shalli was trained as an anti-aircraft artillery battalion commander in the Soviet Union before eventually becoming a Plan detachment commander.
He was then promoted to the position of chief of air defence at the north-eastern front, and afterwards made chief of staff of the north-eastern front. By the end of the war, he was Plan’s chief of operations.
When Plan merged into the military structure at independence in 1990, Shalli was given the position of policy and operations director, with the rank of brigadier general. He was promoted to major general and appointed NDF chief of staff in 1995, replacing Major General Charles Namoloh.
Between 2000 and 2005, he was the army commander with the rank of major general. He was promoted to lieutenant general in 2006, and appointed chief of the Namibian Defence Force.
Brave
On the day, hundreds of Otjozondjupa residents braved the heavy rainshowers and chilly weather conditions to receive the casket of late Nujoma at the Grootfontein Military Air Base with songs and dance.
Young and old residents of Grootfontein as well as those from surrounding towns thronged the town’s streets to pay their final respects to the anti-apartheid icon, who died on 8 February in Windhoek aged 95. An official memorial service was then held at the Omulunga stadium.
Selfless
Speaker of Parliament Peter Katjavivi, who was the representative chief mourner on behalf of President Nangolo Mbumba, led the procession, and was the keynote speaker at the memorial service.
Paying tribute to the fallen liberation struggle stalwart, Otjozondjupa governor James Uerikua described Nujoma as a selfless leader who tirelessly fought and advocated for an equitable society for all Namibians, irrespective of tribe or race.
“Our late founding president hated oppression, particularly the oppression of Namibians and Africans. That is why he dedicated his entire life and energy to the total emancipation of his people, but he also reminded us that political freedom was not enough until economic freedom was achieved.
He will be counted amongst his peers such as Nelson Mandela of South Africa, Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe, Julius Nyerere of Tanzania, Kenneth Kaunda of Zambia and many others. These are people who liberated the continent. Namibians will forever continue to honour his legacy,” he added.
“Our president fought a good fight, remained faithful to Namibia, and finished his race as a proud and fulfilled man. It is now up to us to take the fight for a better Namibia forward, as that will be the only way we can honour his legacy”, the governor noted.
Meanwhile, veteran politician Pendukeni Ivula-Ithana delivered the late Nujoma’s eulogy, describing him as a man of rare qualities, and an inspiration to future generations of Namibia and Africa at large.
“A lot has been said about this remarkable icon, who traversed difficult paths to make sure that we as Namibians are free forever. Nujoma was a revolutionary and visionary who understood the important task that was at hand during those tough days.
That was a task of liberating a people so badly oppressed by the apartheid regime. Today, Namibia is free and proudly united as one nation, and this is all thanks to Nujoma and others who stood firm,” she stated.
-ohembapu@nepc.com.na