President Hage Geingob has said Cassinga Day is not only a day to commemorate selfless acts of sacrifice, but also a day for Namibians to reaffirm their patriotism and foster a sense of pride and duty towards the nation.

Namibians on Thursday commemorated Cassinga Day. The Cassinga massacre occurred on 04 May 1978, when South African Defence Force planes flew over the Swapo refugee camp at Cassinga in southern Angola and dropped bombs, killing close to 600 Namibians and wounding 400 others.

“The objective of the apartheid forces was to instil fear and discourage the continuation of Namibia’s liberation struggle under the leadership of the Swapo Party,” Geingob said in a statement issued on Thursday.

He said these acts only strengthened the unity, solidarity and resolve of Namibians to continue fighting for Namibia’s total liberation from colonialism and apartheid.

Geingob said the Cassinga massacre became “one of the many rivers of blood that Namibians crossed towards freedom for all.”

“This was in line with the proclamation by the late People’s Liberation Army of Namibia (PLAN) Commander, Peter Eneas Nanyemba, that we had to cross many rivers of blood before achieving our freedom,” the president stated.

Geingob in his statement paid tribute to those who lost their lives in the attack, saying their sacrifice will never be forgotten.

“Today, many of us not only deeply appreciate the depth and height of the sacrifices that our fallen heroes and heroines have made, but we also understand the need to maintain the peace, unity and freedom that their sacrifices brought for us as Namibians,” the Head of State said.

Source: The Namibian Press Agency