Always in our hearts There has been glowing tributes celebrating the life of former Cuban leader and the revolutionary Fidel Castro who died at the weekend aged 90. There is no doubt that Castro was a towering figure and saw himself as a modern day revolutionary. It was his revolutionary spirit that inspired many, and not only in the Americas, but also in Southern Africa when many countries were still oppressed by the apartheid regime. El Comandante is well respected in Namibia and remains a symbol of hope to many to this day. During Namibia''s liberation struggle, Cuba under the leadership of Castro rendered all political, diplomatic and material support to liberation movements in Southern Africa. The likes of Swapo, ANC and Angola''s MPLA, among others, can all speak fondly of the selfless contribution of the Cuban people to self-determination, national liberation and international solidarity. An all-weather friend indeed and as Cuban ambassador to Namibia Giraldo Mazola stated at the weekend, Namibia and Cuba''s friendship is an “irreversible” relationship. The battle of Cuito Cuanavale indeed remains an unshakable memory in the lives of Namibians, Angolans and Cuban Internationalist Forces who defeated the white minority regime of South Africa. One can simply not refer to the battle of Cuito Cuanavale without mentioning Namibia''s independence.History tells us that Cuba deployed more than 350 000 troops to Africa to aid the MPLA in Angola and Swapo in Namibia, among other causes. Approximately 2000 Cubans died in fighting in the region. It is true that Castro was loved and loathed. His death not only brought tears to some, but many others celebrated his demise and labelled him a tyrant. Some still took issue with his human rights record despite the revolutionary ideas he epitomised. The revolutionary spirit of Fidel Castro lives on in Namibian hearts and may his soul rest in peace. Long live the people of Cuba.