Addressing the official Heroes' Day commemoration at Katima Mulilo in the Caprivi Region, Pohamba said Namibia had vowed not to go back to the ruthless apartheid era which ruled the country through segregation and division, and seceding any part of it fell under the same rule.

"It is for this reason that history will judge harshly any person or group of persons who make any attempt to dismember any part of our Republic," he said.

The President said it was regrettable that in 1999 some politicians misled people to tear Namibia apart for their own selfish reasons.

"These politicians were part and parcel of the democratic process that led to the drafting of the Namibian Constitution.

At no point during the negotiations leading to the drafting of the Constitution did any politician dispute the fact that Namibia would be a unitary state.

We reached consensus on this important and fundamental issue underlying our nationhood."

Pohamba had some harsh words for Mishake Muyongo, the claimed leader of the Caprivi secessionist movement.

He said Muyongo agreed with Namibia as a unitary State when the Constituent Assembly was working on the Constitution.

"We owe it to the martyrs of our revolution to remain united and with commitment and fortitude create a strong, united and democratic society for which they sacrificed their lives.

We have a historic and national responsibility to ensure that Namibia remains sovereign and independent forever," Pohamba said.

Throughout his speech Pohamba emphasised the importance of unity and the preservation of Namibia's territorial integrity.

"Today, Namibia enjoys peace, freedom and political stability because we defeated the forces of apartheid colonialism through unity," he said.

Pohamba paid tribute to several freedom fighters including former Swapo Vice President Brendan Simbwaye, Benjamin Bebi and Greenwell Matongo, who were all from the Caprivi Region.

For many years, the Eastern Front, which covered the Caprivi Region, was the only theatre of military operations by Swapo combatants and the late Tobias Hainyeko was killed in action at Namwi Island along the Zambezi River in 1967.

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