Ya Toivo’s birthday to be marked with airport naming

ONDANGWA Airport will be officially renamed after the late veteran Andimba Toivo Ya Toivo on his birthday on 22 August.

The Namibia Airports Company (NAC)’s announcement comes after calls to honour the deceased legend since his death in 2017.

It was made today in a statement issued by the entity’s spokesperson, Dan Kamati.

“In July 2014, calls were mooted and repeated for Ondangwa Airport to be renamed in honour of the late liberation struggle hero, Herman Andimba Toivo ya Toivo. In June 2017, these talks gained momentum, and were finally approved by Cabinet in 2018,” said the statement.

NAC board chairperson Leake Hangala said after the government had given the go-ahead, they had been at work to get the renaming process completed.

“We are truly moved that those who will pass through this important junction to many destinations at home and abroad will have the possibility to truthfully say that for a moment, at least, they had the privilege personally to be associated with the name of an outstanding human being, Andimba Toivo ya Toivo” said Hangala.

Kamati added that the airport had since been renovated and now boasts a new terminal building inaugurated in 2015, a restaurant, bistro, curio shop, foreign exchange service desks, as well as sufficient and comfortable seating.

Ya Toivo was a founding member of Swapo and its predecessor, the Ovamboland People’s Organisation (OPO).

He served 16 years at Robben Island with the likes of South African hero Nelson Mandela, and his death drew worldwide attention, with condolences pouring in from South Africa and Cuba, amongst others.

The “gentle giant” was laid to rest at Heroes Acre outside Windhoek aged 92.

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