It took over 20 years of armed struggle before Namibia could gain its independence from South Africa in March 1990. During that time, many paid with their lives and others lived to tell the horrible tales of the atrocities they survived.
The victory was remarkable in the face of an overwhelmingly superior enemy.
These are the words of war veteran Niikondo Gerhard Niikondo, well-known by the nom de guerre Rocko.
“It was not easy at all. I never thought I would ever sit talking and laughing freely like this,” he said.
He narrated that he left Namibia in 1978 with eight of his relatives, but none of those made it back home.
“From my house, I am the only one who survived, and from my group, we were only three who survived,” he added.
It was 44 years ago when Rocko, one of the survivors from Cassinga, and his eight cousins, decided to cross the border into Angola to join Swapo in the liberation struggle.
But what was initially an adventure for the 22-year-old from Oshinyadhila village in the Oshana region turned into a nightmare just a year after he arrived in Angola.
Rocko is one of the survivors of apartheid South Africa’s raid on Cassinga, a Swapo refugee camp in Angola, in the early morning hours of 4 May 1978.
The attack, which killed more than 600 people, mainly women and children, also robbed Rocko of most of his relatives, although some died later during the war.
“It was about 06h00 when I heard a deafening sound, and afterwards all hell broke loose as people started screaming and shouting,” he recalled.
He said women and children and Swapo soldiers were running all over the place in the camp.
Some were falling as they tried to run into the nearby bushes as the South African air forces dropped bombs onto the camp.
“I remained lying on the floor. I could not move because I was scared that any single mistake, I would be attacked,” Rocko recounted.
He said when he regained consciousness, he was surrounded by people in army uniforms. Luckily, it was members of the People’s Liberation Army of Namibia (Plan - Swapo’s armed wing).
“At first, I got a big scare because I was unable to move my legs as my back was badly damaged when bricks fell on me. But I was relieved when I discovered a few days later that I could move my legs,” Rocko continued.
He indicated that for him, Cassinga Day will remain a special day in his life.
“It is a day of remembrance, a day when I sit back and think about my beloved cousins and my other comrades who lost their lives while fighting for the liberation of Namibia,” he noted.
When asked if he had any regrets about going to join Swapo in exile, he answered:” No, of course not!
“I will never be sorry to have joined the liberation struggle. I might have lost my sisters and brothers at the hands of the enemy, but at least I am proud to have contributed to the liberation of Namibia,” he explained.
“I am lucky to be back home and not terribly injured, although I was shot on the buttocks. Today, I am here, showing and telling stories of my involvement in the liberation struggle,” he indicated.
“I am proud of myself for being part of the liberation struggle.
“After independence, I had the joy and happiness of the freedom of this country,” said the retired policeman, who worked as a radio communications officer.