By Albertina Nakale
WINDHOEK – The Ministry of Veterans Affairs and the University of Namibia (Unam) have entered an agreement to preserve Namibian history via research, much of which will be about Namibia’s dark pre-independence era.
According to Unam’s public relations officer for communications and marketing, Johannes Haufiku, the research will dig back as far as 1959.
“Much emphasis will be placed on the notable period of the liberation struggle,” he said.
According to the agreement between the two institutions, the ministry’s main responsibility is to ensure the project is provided with adequate funds whilst Unam will provide academics to conduct the research.
The veterans affairs ministry is mandated to provide social and economic support to war veterans, which will enable them to engage in sustainable initiatives, improve their livelihood and keep alive the history of the liberation struggle.
The agreement was recently signed by the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Veterans Affairs Ambassador Hopelong Ipinge and Unam Vice-Chancellor Professor Lazarus Hangula. It hopes to unravel a much neglected area of national development, Haufiku said.
“Various historians at the University of Namibia have in the past exclaimed that to date there is very little literature which comprehensively details Namibian history in general and that of the liberation struggle specifically,” Haufiku noted.
Explaining the need for such a project, Ipinge said: “We need to keep Namibian heroes alive, from one generation to the next.”
Hangula, a historian by training, added: “We are quite excited to play a small part in this national project. We intend to tell real stories, giving a true revelation of where we come from as a nation. Our main focus for now is to ensure that no aspect of history is left out; a comprehensive plan of action is underway.”
The historian added: “Members of the public can look forward to books, audio and perhaps even pictorials after the research is completed.”