Mourning in isolation

Maggy Thomas WINDHOEK On Monday, for the first time in Namibia's history, Cassinga survivors commemorated the day in isolation due to the global coronavirus pandemic. The Cassinga massacre occurred on 4 May 1978, when South African Defence Force (SADF) planes flew over the Swapo refugee camp at Cassinga in southern Angola and dropped bombs, killing close to 600 Namibians and wounding 400 others, most of whom were women and children.Survivors usually gather in groups every year to remember those whose remains are buried in Angola, lighting candles in prayer and singing liberation struggle songs. However, this year, the heroes and heroines were honoured amidst the deadly pandemic, a situation which resulted in survivors commemorating the day at home with only family members to lean on.As a preventative measure against the spread of the coronavirus, large gatherings have been prohibited in conformity with the state of emergency declared by President Hage Geingob in March. Heartbreaking “It is heartbreaking to observe Cassinga Day with only family members. Today is a sad day, we are commemorating in isolation due to the pandemic. We cannot do it in groups as we are following the World Health Organisation (WHO) guidelines aimed at containing the virus,” Ignatius Mwanyekange, one of the survivors, told Nampa at his house in Katutura's Wanaheda residential area.“As we commemorate Cassinga Day, let's take our hats off to honour the departed heroes who lit the path for us. Let's observe a minute of silence wherever we are to recognise those who lost their lives on this day,” a sombre Mwanyekange said, before adding that the fight is now against a different enemy in the form of the coronavirus. “We hoped to be in Cassinga to lay wreaths for our fallen heroes, but because of the virus, we are unable to travel,” he said. Mwanyekange called on all Namibians, wherever they are, to pay homage to the fallen heroes while adhering to the guidelines on social distancing and washing their hands.By doing so, they are also paying homage and respect to the departed heroes “whose blood waters our freedom”. “I know many people, when they woke up, were crying as if this massacre happened yesterday. It's as if the more years pass, the more painful it becomes,” he said. Another survivor, Asteria Shiimi, sobbed uncontrollably when the Nampa team met with her at her home in the Freedomland residential area. Narrating her ordeal on that fateful day, Shiimi said she cries every year when she remembers the massacre. She only found peace when she travelled to Cassinga in 2016 to visit the graves of the people killed on that day, along with other survivors.“I wish I could also travel this year to just take flowers to the departed comrades. I lost family members there, I left my friends dead in Cassinga and lost my peace on that day,” she said. Traumatised Shiimi, who turned 60 on Monday, was left with permanent damage to her leg and one of her eyes during the massacre. “The Cassinga massacre left me emotionally traumatised and with physical scars. How am I going to get out of this? There is no healing from such a horrific experience. I think I will live with this forever,” she said, tears running down her cheeks. Elise Hishongwa is also a survivor of the massacre. “We always commemorate Cassinga in a group. We go to Heroes' Acre to lay wreaths in honour of those who passed on that fateful day,” she said. Hishongwa said it was hard and emotional to commemorate the day at home, all alone. “If you go out, you might have survived Cassinga, but you may die because of the corona. “We have to save lives, however, so let us commemorate Cassinga Day in isolation,” she said, while encouraging the youth to learn Namibia's history and preserve it for future generations. Hishongwa also called on parents to tell their children about the importance of the day in Namibia's history. To the Cassinga survivors, Hishongwa said: “Be strong, obey the rules. Let's stay home, let's respect the WHO guidelines and mourn in isolation. Stay safe.” Emotional memories Cassinga Day brings back emotional memories for those who were present, irrespective of how young they were. Indileni Hamutengela was just nine years old at the time of the massacre. She survived the attack with her three sisters and three cousins.Hamutengela said it has been very difficult to recover from the emotional and physical scars left behind.“Every year on 4 May, at around 07:00, I wake up remembering the black smoke covering the camp, hearing the sounds of bombs and seeing lifeless bodies scattered all over. These are painful memories,” she said. Most of the surviving children from Cassinga were, immediately after the attack, flown to the Island of Youth, the second largest Cuban island, as per an earlier request to Cuba by founding president Sam Nujoma. As the survivors reflect on the loss of their comrades on that fateful day, and during subsequent battles, a small part of them remembers that it was not all in vain as they stood by and witnessed the Namibian flag hoisted for the first time on 21 March 1990. Mission accomplished. They have lived their dream of contributing to Namibia's independence.

Mourning in isolation

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Namibian Sun 2025-05-13

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Mourning in isolation

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Namibian Sun 2025-05-13

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