Several Heads of State to grace Nam’s 20th Independence Anniversary

By Asser Ntinda

     

Windhoek is set to be a hive of activities this weekend as several sitting and former Heads of State and Government begin arriving in the country to witness Namibia’s 20th Independence Anniversary and the swearing in of President Hifikepunye Pohamba for his second term on Sunday.

Among the key Heads of State that are coming are Zimbabwe’s Robert Mugabe, South Africa’s Jacob Zuma, Tanzania’s Jakaya Kikwete, Botswana’s Lt General Ian Khama, Zambia’s Rupiah Banda, Congo Brazzaville’s Denis Sassou Ngwesso, Democratic Republic of Congo’s Joseph Kabila and Mozambique’s Armando Guebuza. Cuba is being represented by its Vice President, Esteban Lazo Hernandez.

Among the former Heads of State that will brace the occasion are Zambia’s Kenneth Kaunda, Botswana’s Quett Masire and Festus Mogae, Finland’s Martti Ahtisaari and Mozambique’s Joachim Chisano.

The widow of Angola’s first President, Maria Eugenia Neto, will also attend. She was married to Angola’s first President, the late Antonio Agostihno Neto. The late Neto died in 1979 and was succeeded by President Dos Santos the same year.

Most of these countries supported SWAPO during Namibia’s liberation struggle. The Frontline States, among them Angola and Zambia, suffered the most as they were constantly attacked militarily by the then apartheid regime of South Africa for hosting and supporting Namibia’s freedom fighters under SWAPO.

Those military attacks, apart from killing innocent people, destroyed economic infrastructures of those countries. The damages suffered by those countries were estimated at about US$12,00 billion, which is about N$90 billion at the current rate.

“The coming of these many Heads of State is not only to symbolize that bond of solidarity but also to see and observe how far we have gone in developing our country,” said one senior Foreign Affairs Official. “Had it not been for the support we have received from these countries, we could not have been where we are now.”

Most of the dignitaries are arriving on Saturday. As part of the celebrations, the Namibia Defence Force, NDF, will stage a military drill from Katutura Hospital, marching through Independence Avenue up to Snyman Circle in down town Windhoek. During the march, the NDF will display its latest military arsenal, graced by fly-pasts of its Air Wing.