IPC: Cassinga is not a political party property

The Independent Patriots for Change (IPC) has called on Namibians to safeguard the legacy of Cassinga by rejecting political division and embracing national unity, as the country commemorates one of its most painful moments in the liberation struggle.

In a statement issued yesterday on Cassinga Day, the official opposition stressed that the events of 4 May 1978, when apartheid South African forces attacked the Cassinga refugee camp in Angola, should remain a solemn national moment of remembrance rather than a platform for partisan politics.

The party warned against what it described as a growing tendency to politicise the commemoration, arguing that such actions undermine the sacrifices made by hundreds of Namibians who were killed during the attack.

“Cassinga Day belongs to every Namibian. It is not the property of any political party… it is a national day of mourning, of reflection, and of unity,” the IPC said.

The statement emphasised that those who died at Cassinga did not sacrifice their lives for any single political formation, but for the freedom of all Namibians, regardless of tribe, region, or political affiliation.

IPC also called on government, opposition parties, and civil society to reclaim the day as an inclusive national event where citizens can collectively honour the fallen and recommit to the values of freedom, dignity, and unity.

This year’s main event was held in Outapi yesterday, where President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah was the keynote speaker.

The Cassinga massacre

Cassinga Day commemorates the events of 4 May 1978, when the South African Defence Force launched a large-scale airborne assault on Cassinga, a settlement in southern Angola that housed Namibian refugees under the administration of Swapo.

The attack, carried out during Namibia’s struggle for independence, resulted in the deaths of 727 people - many of them women and children - in a matter of hours. While South Africa at the time described Cassinga as a military base, Swapo has consistently maintained that it was primarily a refugee camp.

The massacre became a defining moment in the country’s liberation history, drawing international condemnation and strengthening global support for Namibia’s independence cause.

Today, Cassinga Day is observed annually as a national day of remembrance to honour those who died and to reflect on the sacrifices made during the fight against apartheid and colonial rule.

Reflecting on the broader liberation struggle, IPC noted that Namibia’s independence was achieved through generations of resistance, both before and after the Cassinga massacre, and should be recognised as a shared national heritage.

The opposition further urged citizens to avoid using historical tragedies to deepen divisions, instead encouraging a forward-looking approach centred on nation-building and reconciliation.

“Cassinga is not a wound to be reopened every May for political advantage… it is proof that our freedom came at a cost that demands we do better by each other,” the statement read.