Heroes receive final resting place

Tributes streamed in at a memorial service held on Monday for the fallen heroes and heroines whose remains were repatriated recently from Zambia and Angola and buried at the Heroes’ Acre yesterday. Family, friends, politicians and fellow liberation fighters all gathered to pay their last respects to seven liberation heroes and celebrate the contribution that they made to the independence of Namibia. The remains of former Swapo Central Committee members Natalia Mavulu, Homateni Kalwenya, Isack ‘Pondo’ Shikongo and former military council members Peter Eneas Nanyemba, and Augustus Nghaamwa McNamara were repatriated by the government from Angola. Swapo Central Committee members Putuse Apollus and Linekela Kalenga were exhumed in Zambia in April. Yesterday their coffins were taken to Heroes’ Acre where they received their final resting place. President Hifikepunye Pohamba said these heroes and heroines sacrificed their lives during the liberation struggle against apartheid and that Namibians should honour their legacy and contribution to the freedom that they are enjoying today. “We honour them for putting their lives on the line and confronting the apartheid regime without fear.” Pohamba said that although they did not live to witness the dawn of independence they are honoured for the role they played to pave the way toward independence in Namibia. According to him the government has made a decision to repatriate the remains freedom fighters buried outside Namibia, but this has posed a major challenge as many are buried in unmarked graves. He said it is even more difficult because it was not always possible to bury them in the heat of battle. Pohamba said some remains were either not buried or were buried in unmarked graves. “It is difficult for us to trace where our comrades were buried,” said Pohamba. The President told the families of the fallen heroes and heroines and other Namibians to continue to honour comrades by serving the country and to building a prosperous Namibia. He said the vices of division and tribalism should be rejected because they have the potential to undermine the hard work of independence. According to the President Namibia is moving forward with the task of nation building, “consolidating our institutions of governance, expanding service delivery to our people, modernising our physical and communications infrastructure and implementing policies aimed at improving the living conditions of all people.” He said that is what Namibia’s heroes and heroines fought so hard and tirelessly for. According to him the current and future generations have a duty to honour their legacy. Pohamba further said that this legacy must continue to serve as the compass guiding the nation towards a brighter future where people enjoy access to quality education, healthcare, safety and security and an improved standard of living. The founding father of Namibia, Sam Nujoma, said many heroes and heroines of the national liberation struggle did not live to see the dawn of freedom and independence because they shed their precious blood for the country of their ancestors and demonstrated the highest measure of patriotism and selfless sacrifice. “These heroes and heroines are those who have sacrificed their previous lives for the protection and defence of our motherland and for the noble cause of fighting for freedom and independence that we are enjoying today.” Nujoma said the political struggle for independence and freedom has been completed but now the struggle for economic independence lies ahead. “This struggle requires unity of purpose and action.” Both the president of the Rally for Democracy (RDP), Hidipo Hamutenya, and the Swapo secretary-general, Nangolo Mbumba, gave a short overview of their experiences with each of the heroes during the liberation struggle, while representatives of the families also paid tribute to them. The Minister of Veterans’ Affairs, Nickey Iyambo, said on behalf of the Nanyemba family that the family is grateful to the government for bringing the remains of Nanyemba and his fellow compatriots back to Namibia. “We are not here for mourning, but to celebrate their lives and heroic deeds.” He said Nanyemba’s remains do not belong to the family but to the Namibian people because that is what he fought and died for. According to Iyambo his last words were: “I know that I am in a critical condition, but the struggle and the war of the liberation must continue.” Nujoma said when Nanyemba died in a road accident on April 1983 in his capacity as president as Swapo and Commander-In-Chief of the People’s Liberation Army of Namibia he had one thing to say: “The name of Comrade Peter Nanyemba will be written in the golden books in an independent Namibia.” According to Nujoma this promise is now fulfilled. Norah Appolus said on behalf of the Appolus family that her mother fought tirelessly for the Namibian cause and taught her children to do the same. The late Appolus, who was one of the first black women to go into exile, was a member of the Swapo Women’s Council and a Central Committee member. She was a Swapo representative at the World Women Organisation before her death in 1986. Apollus also worked for the Lusaka City Council in the 1970s. Norah Appolus said it was a great sorrow that she died only a few years before Namibia gained independence, but her mother’s wish has been granted to be buried in Namibia. “Mom, you are home now. Your legacy of selfless sacrifice lives on.” On behalf of the Kalenga Family, Erika Kalenga expressed her admiration and gratitude for the steps taken by the government to recognise the great courage of these fallen heroes. Kalenga, who is believed to have died in 1981, was the party’s secretary for education and a Central Committee member. Erika said the challenge for the younger generation is to emulate the heroism of these fallen heroes. “He has passed on his torch; unfortunately he could not see his dream of a liberated Namibia.” Cleopas Shatona expressed gratitude on behalf of the Kalwenja family for bringing these remains to the “motherland”. He said Kalwenja had shown leadership skills from a young age and decided to leave his single mother to participate in the struggle for liberation. According to him this indicates that these heroes and heroines believed that the ideals for an independent Namibia were worth fighting and dying for. “Their courage was bigger than their fear.” He said the best way to honour them is to build Namibia into a successful nation. David Namalenga said on behalf of the Shikongo family that the journey Shikongo went through is worth celebrating. “No matter how great the risk in his way, he never stepped away. He did not spare any effort and gave up his life for independence and freedom.” He said the family will continue to celebrate his life and are consolidated that it was not in vain. The Mavulu family said that when someone passes away there is a strong temptation to remember them. “The only fault she had been to leave behind a husband, eight children and comrades who loved her very much.” Josephat Heimbala of the Nghaamwa family said that Namibians are enjoying peace and democracy today because of these fallen heroes and heroines. “Thank you for honouring and respecting them.” WINDHOEK ELLANIE SMIT