Windhoek: Hundreds of people across the country flocked to Gobabis in the Omaheke Region to witness the official unveiling ceremony of Chief Munjuku II Nguvauva Military Base on Saturday. The government honoured the late Ovambanderu Chief Munjuku II for the pivotal role he played during the colonial period and renamed the 126 Battalion after him.

According to Namibia Press Agency, current Ovambanderu Chief Tjozohongo II Nguvauva expressed his appreciation to the government for recognising his father and naming a military base after the late chief. "This is indeed a good gesture bestowed to us as the family and the entire Ovambanderu community. This is signifying the bravery of our elders," he said. Nguvauva added that his father's contributions included welcoming the late Founding President Sam Nujoma in Botswana when he went into exile to liberate the country.

Nguvauva also urged his community to remain united and concentrate on their development agenda to become self-supporting. Ovambanderu community historian Asaria Tuiiuane Tjozongoro-Kandjou touched on the hardship the community went through during the colonial period. "This honorary event is a symbol of the past achievements of the Ovambanderu leaders. They were targeted by the colonisers," he said.

Tjozongoro-Kandjou added that the late Chief Nguvauva had strong ties with Chief Hosea Kutako while in Botswana as he was sending money to assist in the plight for Namibia's independence. "His contribution is self-explanatory and require such recognition. Chief Munjuku also attended the historical Lusaka Conference in 1984 in Zambia," he said. During this time, Tjozongoro-Kandjou said Chief Munjuku II attended the event as an observer at the invitation of then SWAPO, a move that led to tensions with the South African administration.

"After the conference, the chief named one of his sons Swapo, and his grandchildren Uakahaama and Lusaka," he said. On his part, senior OTA councillor Arnold Ripuree Tjozongoro also thanked the government for honouring the late chief. "This is indeed a significant step in the community, as Ovambanderu never wavered in the fight against colonialism," he said. Nguvauva who was born in Botswana, led the Ovambanderu people there since 1951, and continued to Namibia where he remained the chief until his death in 2008.