By Elezo Libanda
Katima Mulilo, Aug. 25 — In commemorating Heroes day, August 26 is a public holiday in Namibia. It is recognized by the United Nations as Namibia day, but Namibians refer to it as Heroes Day.
The battle of Omugulugwombashe on 26 August 1966, in which South African soldiers attacked the Plan fighters, marks the start of the liberation war under Swapo. The day is marked in Namibia as Heroes’ Day.
Omugulugwombashe is one of Namibia’s two state cemeteries which was inaugurated by Namibia’s founding president Sam Nujoma where national heroes are buried.
A statue of six soldiers who were at the camp when the South African attacked, was inaugurated by Namibia’s second president, Hifikepunye Pohamba in May 2014.
Omugulugwombashe battle marks the first clash in what would become a long and intense struggle for Namibia’s independence.
As such it is commemorated in the prestigious decoration for the liberation war, the Omugulugwombashehe medal.
The commemoration for this year’s Heroes Day is scheduled for Mariental in the Hardap region in line with the government’s policy of rotating the main celebrations to different venues each year.
However, there are fears that since Mariental is under the administration of an opposition LPM political party, threats to boycott the event may spoil the celebrations.
LPM has accused the government of not consulting them prior to hosting the event in the southern town and the party would boycott the event.
