99th Heroes Day marked in the South

THE Witbooi clan commemorated their 99th Heroes Day festival in style over the weekend at the farm Goamus, 49 kilometres north-east of Gibeon.

Hundreds of people flocked to Goamus – where the late Captain Dawid Moses Witbooi found a spring – to celebrate the day. The festival originated as a remembrance day for the late Captain Hendrik Witbooi, who died during the resistance against German colonial rule more than century ago.This year’s event also commemorated the victims of the 1904 war against the German colonial forces.Speaking at the occasion, German Ambassador Wolfgang Massing reiterated German Minister Wieczorek Zeul’s apology, made at the commemoration of the Ohamakari battle, for the crimes committed against the Herero and Nama communities.He said this public apology was a breakthrough in the process of reconciliation.Massing noted that the past couldn’t be changed but co-operation in working for a better future in peace and prosperity was needed.”Therefore, let us continue on this road of reconciliation in the spirit of mutual understanding and respect to strengthen friendship between our two nations and people,” he said.He further said that his government wants to assist Namibia in its efforts to overcome the legacies of the past, mainly the huge socio-economic disparities created in the period of apartheid and colonialism.Approached afterwards, Deputy Prime Minister and Captain of the Witbooi Clan, Hendrik Witbooi, expressed his gratitude towards the people who turned up to mark this historic day.”I’m really happy about the activities that took place, as well as the attendance of the people although most of them are busy with the election campaigns,” Witbooi said.He urged the local community to exploit the underground water found at Goamus for economic development.”Stand up and be a hardworking nation,” he said.The festival originated as a remembrance day for the late Captain Hendrik Witbooi, who died during the resistance against German colonial rule more than century ago.This year’s event also commemorated the victims of the 1904 war against the German colonial forces.Speaking at the occasion, German Ambassador Wolfgang Massing reiterated German Minister Wieczorek Zeul’s apology, made at the commemoration of the Ohamakari battle, for the crimes committed against the Herero and Nama communities.He said this public apology was a breakthrough in the process of reconciliation.Massing noted that the past couldn’t be changed but co-operation in working for a better future in peace and prosperity was needed.”Therefore, let us continue on this road of reconciliation in the spirit of mutual understanding and respect to strengthen friendship between our two nations and people,” he said.He further said that his government wants to assist Namibia in its efforts to overcome the legacies of the past, mainly the huge socio-economic disparities created in the period of apartheid and colonialism.Approached afterwards, Deputy Prime Minister and Captain of the Witbooi Clan, Hendrik Witbooi, expressed his gratitude towards the people who turned up to mark this historic day.”I’m really happy about the activities that took place, as well as the attendance of the people although most of them are busy with the election campaigns,” Witbooi said.He urged the local community to exploit the underground water found at Goamus for economic development.”Stand up and be a hardworking nation,” he said.