Founding members of the Namibia National Students Organisation (NANSO) formed a veterans association over the weekend.
Close to 100 former members of the student movement convened at St Joseph’s Secondary School at Dobra in the Khomas region.
This is the same venue where the organisation was established on 2 June 1984 by students who were fighting against the Bantu education system during the apartheid era.
The association’s founding president, George Mayumbelo, said the establishment of the association marks a milestone in the history of student and youth activism in Namibia.
He said “the NANSO of yesteryear contributed immensely to this struggle and to the advancement of quality education. “
According to him the contributions of Nanso veterans towards the attainment of independence and the establishment of equitable education remain exemplary and worthy of recognition and sharing.
“It is within this context that the Nanso Veterans Association (NVA) has been established to, support, empower, and advocate for the interests of former members and activists and foster a sense of community and solidarity among veterans within Namibia in the diaspora,” he said.
Mayumbelo stated that NVA membership shall be open to former card-bearing members and activists of Nanso from 1984 to 1995.
According to him the association will provide resources and mentorship for academic, socio-economic empowerment and promote lasting solutions to challenges faced by veterans.
The association elected Mayumbelo as president, Nambata Kalomo-Ulenga as his deputy, Phanuel Kaapama as secretary general, Jackey Onesmus as treasurer, Faustinus Wakudumo as secretary for veterans affairs, and Pretronella Coetzee-Masabane as secretary for economic and social development affairs.
In addition, four members were elected to serve on the leadership structure: Lucius Murorua, Sandra !Owoses, Twiggy Nicanor, and Wilfried Brock.
