Namibia’s fight for economic emancipation demands new heroes and heroines: Geingob

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President Hage Geingob said the struggle for economic emancipation of Namibians requires new heroes and heroines, and this is the time for them to step forward to the challenge.

Geingob while addressing the Heroes Day commemoration at Mariental in the Hardap Region, on Friday said, just as the liberation struggle was long and bitter, so too will the economic struggle be long and bitter, but victory is certain.

He said over the past years, Namibia has faced many challenges which have all played a role in placing the economy under enormous pressure such as the variables of global commodity crisis, currency fluctuations, and recurrent droughts that were among the worst in recent history, as well as the Covid-19 pandemic which took the lives of many Namibians who included many veterans of the liberation struggle.

Those who fought for the independence of Namibia, he noted, have laid a solid foundation of unity and sacrifice and now the onus lies with the nation to continue the march where they left off, to fulfill the ideals, which spurred them to patriotic action.

‘We must realise that it is only the Namibian people who can usher in the dawn of economic liberation. Let us not despair and surrender to a sense of helplessness as we face economic issues today. Now is the time to redouble our efforts to confront these issues head-on until we are able to liberate our nation from the shackles of economic enslavement.

As we observe Heroes Day, let us tap into the spirit of those who stood up against colonial oppression, let us emulate their zeal, patriotism, their bravery and unwavering determination, so that we redouble our efforts and continue the march towards building a Namibia that will stand strong, a Namibia that is united, a Namibia that is peaceful, and a Namibia that will be prosperous for many years to come,’ he said.

He further urged Namibians to recognise that Namibia’s victorious struggle for freedom was the result of the cooperation of like-minded patriots who grasped the significance of independence and valued it above all else.

They originated from all fourteen regions of the nation, transcending the tribal Bantustans established by Apartheid and united as one people against oppression, Geingob said.

Source: The Namibian Press Agency