13 August 2026.
Statement by Her Excellency Dr. Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, President of the Republic of Namibia, on the occasion of the centenary celebration of the birth of Commander-in-Chief Fidel Castro Ruz.
Director of Proceedings;
Your Excellency Lucia Witbooi, Vice President of the Republic of Namibia;
Right Honourable Elijah Ngurare, Prime Minister of the Republic of Namibia;
Honourable Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila, Speaker of the National Assembly;
Honourable Jenelly Matundu, Deputy Minister of International Relations and Trade;
Your Excellency Sergio Vigoa de la Uz, Ambassador of the Republic of Cuba;
Honourable Cabinet Ministers;
Honourable Members of Parliament;
Excellencies Heads of Missions;
Ambassador Tuliameni Kalomoh, Deputy Chairperson of the National Committee of the Campaign of Namibians in solidarity with Cuba;
Comrades;
Members of the Media;
Ladies and Gentlemen.
We are here today to commemorate the centenary of the birth of one of the most consequential figures of the twentieth century, El Comandante-En-Jefe Fidel Alejandro Castro Ruz.
We honour the legacy of a man whose life became inseparable from the struggles of oppressed peoples across the world. A revolutionary whose vision extended far beyond the shores of Cuba to embrace the aspirations of Africa. A statesman whose unwavering commitment to justice helped alter the course of our own history.
Although one hundred years have passed since his birth, the ideals for which Fidel Castro lived, continue to resonate across continents and generations. They remind us that true leadership is measured not by power or privilege, but by the lives it touches, the dignity it defends, and the hope it inspires. For Namibia, today is not merely a commemorative occasion; it is a deeply personal one.
The history of our liberation is intertwined with the solidarity and internationalist commitment of the Cuban people under the leadership of Comrade Fidel Castro. For our people, Cuba was not a distant voice of solidarity. It was a steadfast Comrade in our struggle for freedom, independence and human dignity.
It is impossible to recount the story of Namibia’s liberation without acknowledging the immeasurable contribution of Cuba and the steadfast leadership of Commander-in-Chief Fidel Castro Ruz who commanded the Cuban Internationalists for the lives of many oppressed people of the world.
It is therefore, with profound gratitude that we remember President Fidel Castro, not only as a leader of the Cuban Revolution, but as a friend of Africa and a committed ally of the liberation movements of our continent.
His legacy lives in the enduring bonds between Cuba and Namibia, forged in the trenches of struggle and sustained by a shared commitment to sovereignty, solidarity, internationalism and justice.
Therefore, Comrade Fidel Castro planted seeds of generosity, solidarity and internationalism that have since germinated, taken deep root and grown into a mighty tree, whose fruits continue to nourish and benefit humanity across generations and continents.
The bonds that unite Namibia and Cuba were not forged through convenience or political expediency. They were forged in the trial of struggle, strengthened by sacrifice, and sanctified by the blood of brave Cuban men and women who believed that no people should remain under the yoke of colonialism, racism and Apartheid. Cuba shared selflessly the little it had with many countries in need.
Comrades and Friends,
An African proverb reminds us: “A river that forgets its source, will soon dry up.” Namibia has not forgotten the hand of solidarity extended to us at a defining moment in our history.
We have not forgotten and will never forget the Cuban sons and daughters who stood with the peoples of Southern Africa and Namibia in particular, nor the unwavering leadership of El-Comandante Fidel Castro, who understood that the struggle for freedom in Africa was inseparable from the struggle for human dignity everywhere.
Ours, therefore, is a relationship born of shared struggle, shared sacrifice and shared humanity. It is a friendship forged in the fires of historic revolution, a friendship that history itself has tested, and history has proven unbreakable.
Thousands of Cuban soldiers travelled thousands of kilometres from their homeland, not in pursuit of territory, wealth or political domination, but in defence of the freedom and dignity of peoples they had never met. They came because they believed that the struggle against colonialism, racism and Apartheid was a common struggle of humanity.
For Namibia, the decisive Battle of Cuito Cuanavale remains one of the defining moments of our liberation struggle. It was the biggest battle on the African soil since the second world war.
It was that battle that brought about a turning point that fundamentally altered the political trajectory of Southern Africa. It demonstrated that Apartheid’s military machine could be resisted and defeated, and it helped create the conditions that accelerated Namibia’s road to independence and hastened the demise of Apartheid itself.
That is why, as we commemorate the centenary of President Fidel Castro’s birth, Namibia does so, not merely in remembrance, but in gratitude, solidarity and renewed commitment to the values that brought our two peoples together.
Our third President Dr. Hage Geingob reminded us that Cuba “did not assist Namibia in pursuit of mineral resources or some other sources of wealth. They had no imperialistic ambitions. They did so out of principles of fairness, equality and respect for the freedom of all people around the world.” Those words capture the essence of Cuba’s contribution more powerfully than any historical analysis could.
Therefore, every Namibian child born in liberty walks upon a freedom purchased not only through the sacrifice of our own heroes and heroines, but also through the sacrifice of the sons and daughters of Cuba.
Namibia shall forever honour the Cuban people, our brothers and sisters, whose solidarity with Namibia was not expressed merely in words, but in courage, sacrifice and action.
We shall never forget the Cuban sons and daughters who stood with Africa when our continent was confronted by the brutal forces of colonialism, racism and Apartheid.
We shall never forget Comrade Fidel Castro Ruz, whose moral courage, internationalist conviction and unwavering solidarity inspired a nation to stand with Africa during one of the darkest chapters in our history.
His legacy lives not only in the history books, but in the freedom of our people, in the enduring friendship between Namibia and Cuba, and in the generations who continue to benefit from the seeds of solidarity he planted.
Therefore, Fidel Castro’s greatness was never measured solely by military victories or political achievements. His enduring legacy lies in his profound commitment to humanity. He believed that every person, irrespective of race, nationality or economic circumstance, deserved dignity, education, healthcare and opportunity.
With Namibia’s independence, the relationship, solidarity and cooperation between the people of Namibia and Cuba continues to be strengthened. Cuban professionals and experts, including Doctors and health professionals continue to serve, in different sectors of our national development, such as engineering, town planning, sports among others. These supports are a clear testimony of the bond of friendship and solidarity between our two people.
Comrades and Friends,
As we honour the legacy of this remarkable leader, we must also reflect honestly on the continued challenges confronting the Republic of Cuba today.
For more than six decades, Cuba has endured a unilateral economic, commercial and financial embargo imposed by the United States of America, which has been intensified in the recent days. Behind every statistic lies the lived reality of ordinary people: a mother searching for essential medicine, a family striving to provide for their children, a young person pursuing opportunity, and communities working tirelessly to preserve their dignity in the face of immense hardship.
The greatest cost of this embargo has never been measured only in economic losses. It has been measured in deferred dreams, constrained opportunities and the quiet resilience of a people who have refused to surrender hope. Yet, despite these challenges, the Cuban people have continued to demonstrate remarkable dignity, determination and resilience.
Namibia has consistently maintained that such unilateral coercive measures, and any form of economic coercion are incompatible with the purposes and principles upon which the United Nations was founded.
Measures that seek to isolate or economically suffocate sovereign nations undermine those principles and inflict their greatest suffering upon ordinary citizens.
We therefore, underline our principled call for the complete and unconditional lifting of the economic embargo against Cuba. No nation should be punished for exercising its sovereign right to determine its own political, economic and social path.
Comrades and Friends,
As we commemorate one hundred years since the birth of President Fidel Castro Ruz, let this occasion renew our collective commitment to the principles that defined his life. Let us reaffirm our commitment to solidarity, justice, equality and the unwavering defence of human dignity.
Let us also teach future generations that freedom is never inherited effortlessly, it is earned through sacrifice, protected by courage and preserved through unity and collective responsibility.
To the people of Cuba, our brothers and sisters, we extend once again the enduring gratitude of the Namibian people. Namibia remembers. Namibia honours. Namibia stands with you in friendship, in solidarity and in our shared pursuit of a more just, peaceful and equitable world.
May the enduring legacy of Commander-in-Chief Fidel Castro Ruz continue to illuminate the path towards justice, peace and human dignity for generations yet to come.
Viva Cuba!
Viva Namibia!
Viva la solidaridad internacional!
Viva Fidel Castro Ruz!
HEROES NEVER DIE!
I thank you / Muchas gracias!
