President Hage Geingob has paid homage to frontline workers in different sectors who are holding the frontline in the country’s war against the COVID-19 pandemic, calling them modern-day heroes.
Geingob in his Heroes Day commemoratory message on Thursday narrated the sequence of events that led to the happenings of 26 August 1966 saying healthcare workers, law enforcement agencies as well as public officials have risked their lives daily since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak and their sacrifice is appreciated and invaluable.
“Your sacrifices represent a bulwark which continues to safeguard the territorial integrity and future of Namibia,” he said.
Reflecting on the country’s current struggle against the COVID-19 pandemic, Geingob also bemoaned the loss of veterans of the Namibian liberation to COVID-19 saying the country has lost some of its best brains, productive citizens and nation builders.
He added that the country has lost and is losing a generation of generation elders who possess political, cultural, ancestral, indigenous knowledge and wisdom.
“A vacuum has been left by COVID-19 which we must now endeavour to fill as we heal from this devastating catastrophe,” said Geingob.
The president further called on all Namibians to recapture the courage and determination of Namibia’s liberation heroes and draw inspiration from their legendary and immortalized exploit as well as emulate their unwavering will and commitment towards nation building adding that the best way to honour these liberation struggle patriots is to emulate the qualities that define them.
“Our national heroes have collectively provided the example and inspiration which has formed the bedrock upon which we have to build the Namibian house,” he added.
Heroes Day is celebrated annually in Namibia on 26 August to commemorate the first armed battle of the Namibian liberation struggle which took place at the Omugulumbashe in the Omusati region on 26 August 1966 in an effort to remember the men and women who selflessly fought for Namibia’s independence.
This year’s celebrations mark precisely 55 years since the battle.
Source: Namibia Press Agency
