President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah on Sunday visited the historic Kongwa military camp in Tanzania, a site that played a pivotal role in Namibia’s liberation struggle.
The visit formed part of her state visit to Tanzania and served as a symbolic return to one of the key centres of southern Africa’s fight against colonialism and apartheid.
“Kongwa was allocated to liberation movements by the Organisation of African Unity Liberation Committee in 1964 and became Swapo’s first major training and operational base,” reads a statement issued on Sunday.
The camp hosted freedom fighters from liberation movements such as South Africa’s African National Congress, Mozambique’s Frelimo and Zimbabwe’s Zanu-PF.
During the visit, Nandi-Ndaitwah toured the camp’s facilities, including the dormitory once occupied by Namibia’s founding president, Sam Nujoma, and fellow freedom fighters who contributed to the country’s independence.
The visit held personal significance for the Namibian head of state, who lived and worked in Tanzania during the liberation struggle.
The Presidency says the visit provided an opportunity to reconnect with a place closely linked to Namibia’s journey to freedom.
The president paid tribute to fallen heroes and heroines at a memorial site where eleven freedom fighters from various liberation movements are buried.
“She laid wreaths at the graves of Namibian freedom fighters Helena Amshira, Ismael Haindongo and Gabriel Shipa in recognition of their sacrifice and service to the nation,” says the Presidency.
Following the visit, Nandi-Ndaitwah travelled to Dodoma, where she inspected land donated by the Tanzanian government for the construction of Namibia’s future diplomatic mission. She also planted a symbolic tree named Umoja, meaning ‘unity’ in Kiswahili, to reaffirm the enduring friendship and solidarity between Namibia and Tanzania.
The visits signalled the deep historical ties between the two countries and highlighted the importance of preserving the legacy of Africa’s liberation struggle.
