Cassinga remembered

MARIA Haimbodi-Kayele was barely a year old when the South African army’s massive strike on Cassinga on May 4 1978 killed her mother, leaving her an orphan.

Her mother was one of the more than 600 Namibians who perished in the refugee camp in southern Angola. Many more, mostly women and children, were injured.’I can’t even remember what she looked like,’ Maria told hundreds of Cassinga commemorators at the Nau-Aib Sports Stadium at Okahandja yesterday.She couldn’t muster any more: her voice broke as she was whisked away and comforted by the small group of Cassinga survivors who paid their respects during a brief candlelight vigil.’When she looks at photos of the mass graves, she must always think: Could this be my mother?’ President Hifikepunye Pohamba remarked during his keynote address. Maria is not the only one, there must be many children who survived Cassinga and who can’t remember what their parents looked like, the Head of State added.President Pohamba asked for a minute’s silence on the 31st commemoration of Cassinga, imploring Namibians never to forget that it is the blood of the victims of Cassinga that ‘waters our freedom’. He also stressed the liberation struggles of Namibia’s forefathers, like the Hereros’ and Namas’ resistance against German rule. He said Okahandja was a fitting place for the commemoration, as many of the country’s resistance leaders are buried there.It is thanks to the selfless sacrifice of the Cassinga victims and other struggle heroes, as well as their will, determination and tenacity to fight for their rights, that Namibia can today celebrate its independence.’We will never, never again be subjected to foreign, colonial domination – never again,’ President Pohamba said.The President emphasised that it doesn’t mean that just because Namibia now nurtures an environment of reconciliation, it should forget Cassinga.’How can you forget when you look at the photo?’ Pohamba asked, referring to the notorious photograph of an open mass grave at Cassinga, which was printed on the cover of the programme.’You can’t forget, but you can reconcile,’ he said.President Pohamba said it is the national duty to ensure that the gains of freedom and democracy enjoyed in Namibia nowadays are consolidated. ‘It is the only way every Namibian will benefit from Independence,’ he said.He called for an end to all social injustice, discrimination and inequality. Pohamba also appealed to especially the youth – ‘those born after Independence’ – to make sure they register for the upcoming presidential and national elections in November.jo-mare@namibian.com.na