Tombstones for liberation struggle icons unveiled at Otjiwarongo

OTJIWARONGO, 23 SEP – Deputy Minister of Veteran Affairs, Hilma Nicanor on Saturday called on the nation to assist her office in the identification of gravesites of liberation struggle icons buried in the country.
Nicanor was speaking at the 28th belated Heroes’ Day commemoration for the Otjiwarongo Constituency in the Otjozondjupa Region on Saturday.
The national Heroes’ Day commemoration this year was held on 26 August 2018 at Nkurenkuru in the Kavango West Region.
Nicanor said this annual commemoration is aimed at honouring the fallen heroes and the first day the Swapo Party’s People’s Liberation Army of Namibia (PLAN) fired the first bullet at Omugulugwombashe to wage a war against oppression.
During Saturday’s event, Nicanor unveiled newly erected tombstones on gravesites of the four Robben Island political prisoners and Swapo Party activists buried at the town.
They are Isaak Gurirab and Helmuth Kandenge, who were political activists in the Otjozondjupa Region and died in 2005. The other two are former Robben Island political prisoners Michael Tjikongo who died in 1999 and Festus Aaron who died in 1990.
“Therefore, a gesture of marking and identification of the gravesites of our heroes in this town is indeed commendable and should be emulated by all of us,” said Nicanor.
She said the marking of gravesites of heroes demonstrates a spirit of camaraderie, care and appreciation of the great ideals they stood for during the struggle for independence.
Otjiwarongo Constituency Councillor, Julius Neumbo personally funded the erection of the four heroes’ tombstones here at a cost of N.dollars 33 700.
Neumbo told the gathering that he was approached by the relatives of the deceased stalwarts to assist them in erecting tombstones on their gravesites.
Deputy Minister for Disability Affairs, Alexia Manombe-Ncube also attended the event.
NAMPA