New Nujoma statue for Ongulumbashe

WINDHOEKNAMENE HELMICH

Former president, Dr Sam Nujoma, is to be immortalised yet again - this time with a statue at Ongulumbashe where Swapo famously started its armed struggle against apartheid forces in 1966.
Ongulumbashe is situated about 25km outside Tsandi in the Uukwaluudhi District of the Omusati Region.
Fittingly, the statue is set to be unveiled on Heroes Day - the 26th of this month.
This was also confirmed yesterday by Nujoma's senior personal assistant, John Nauta, even though he said he was not at liberty to elaborate on the upcoming festivities.
A source in the ministry of culture, who is part of the organising committee of the upcoming event, said the statue is already standing at Ongulumbashe.
Although the source refused to comment about how much the erection of the statue had cost, he did say that the funds had been made available by government, who were keen to have a larger-than-life bronze statue in honour of Nujoma erected at the Ongulumbashe site.
“A decision was made and approved by Cabinet to do this, it is a normal thing to honour our founding father and having a statue made in his honour is just another way of doing this,” said the source.
August 26, 1966, marked the start of over two decades of “Bush War” in Namibia. On this day, Swapo attacked a group of forces from the then South African apartheid regime at Ongulumbashe. For the next 24 years, the People's Liberation Army of Namibia (PLAN) and the apartheid regime were at war - culminating on March 21, 1990, in Namibia officially gaining independence from South Africa.
To honour those who lost their lives fighting for national freedom, Namibia has designated August 26 as Heroes' Day.
On this day, thousands of Namibians gather at Ongulumbashe to celebrate. During this full day of celebrations, representatives from all 13 regions give performances and cultural presentations, including traditional praise songs and dances.
In addition, there is a re-enactment of the battle of Ongulumbashe, which concludes with the raising of the Namibian flag in the same manner as the fighters did after each triumph during the liberation war.