Ongulumbashe - taking stock It is said that a nation that cannot remember its history is damned to repeat it and Namibian Sun walked down memory lane with a few veterans. Former apartheid icon commends Namibia on Heroes’ day It is said that a nation that cannot remember its history is damned to repeat it and Namibian Sun walked down memory lane with a few veterans. Namibians commemorate the 50th anniversary of the bloody battle of Ongulumbashe tomorrow, when South African apartheid forces attacked the Ongulumbashe base in the north of the country. Today, 26 years ago, after that long and hard battle Namibia is free and finally ruled by its own people. However, in taking stock, the country is faced by a number of crippling socioeconomic challenges not the least of which is poverty. While some have praise for the government others believe more needs to be and can be done.
Namibian Sun spoke with Pik Botha the former South African foreign affairs minister, who played a crucial role in Namibia’s transition to independence.
Botha, who in his political career was a staunch defender and supporter of the apartheid system, now says he is proud of Namibia’s journey and how the country is governing itself.
He praised Namibia for having made significant strides since independence in 1990.
“I am impressed with the manner in which the country is governed. And it is important to understand every Namibian contributed to this cause. Namibia is an example of orderly administration for the rest of Africa,” he said.
Look in the mirror
Meanwhile former People’s Liberation Army of Namibia (Plan) combatant Kazenambo Kazenambo said Namibia can only honour its heroes by fighting the evil of tribalism and favouritism.
According to him there is a stark difference between the Namibia during the liberation struggle and what is happening in the country now.
“There was no small hero and a big hero then. We fought alongside each other regardless of where we came from and which language we spoke. I am worried, are we really in a Namibia where no one is left out?” he asked.
Kazenambo said he is not despairing or saying that government has “lost the plot” but it must look at itself in the mirror to see if it is still committed to the values of nation building.
“Then we had comradeship, but now all I can say is all is not well,” said the outspoken Swapo politician.
Although he commended the government for providing access to education, health, business and other opportunities, he believes more needs to be done.
“For others gravel roads may seem as if government is doing nothing but they must remember that it was the Swapo government that has opened up these gravel roads to link communities to bigger towns where they can access facilities,” said Kazenambo.
He however maintains that there seems to be a leadership deficit in the top echelon and that leaders must take responsibility for their jobs and not criticise government when they leave office.
“When citizens express themselves on issues of governance we tend to personalise it rather than addressing the problems,” he said.
Painful journey
According to the former Plan commander Martin Shalli Namibians must, as they commemorate their heroes, also celebrate the strides the country has made to uplift the lives of its people.
Shalli joined Plan in 1971 in exile and eventually was trained as an anti-aircraft artillery battalion commander in the Soviet Union before eventually becoming a Plan platoon commander.
When Plan merged into the military structure to help create the Namibia Defence Force, Shalli was given the position of policy and operations director with the rank of brigadier-general.
According to Shalli his worst memory of the liberation struggle is the Cassinga massacre, where hundreds of civilians lost their lives.
“The struggle was long and there were many setbacks but we did not give up. For us there was only one goal and it was to gain independence and what a day it was when victory finally came,” said Shalli.
Focus
Swapo party spokesperson Helmut Angula said there is a serious need for Namibians to rededicate themselves and to take inspiration from the dedicated plan fighters that were committed to their cause.
He also challenged Namibians to commemorate the fallen heroes by cleaning up their communities or to spearhead development projects that would benefit the youth.
“I am saying rededicate, because there are only a few that are ready to work hard; others are just out there to commit crimes and engage in violence,” he said.
This year’s commemoration takes place in Walvis Bay in the Erongo Region.
JEMIMA BEUKES