24 March 2008
Luanda — The twentieth anniversary of the Cuito Cuanavale Battle that marked the Angolan army's triumph over the South African troops that tried to occupy the national territory was commemorated Sunday, March 23.
The main event marking the date happened on Saturday at Cuito Cuanavale district, south-east Kuando Kubango province, and was attended by the countries that took part in this epic battle, Angolans, Cubans, Namibians and South Africans.
An activity mainly marked by happiness on the reunion of patriots who bravely and professionally defended the sovereignty and independence of Angola.
It was exciting to see prominent figures such as the generals França Ndalu, Vitename, António Valeriano, Pedro Sebastião (Angolans), Leopoldo Cintras Frias (Cuban), Charles Namoloh (Namibian), among other brave men who fought in the aforementioned battle.
The occasion also served to show a movie backdating 20 years which, among various consequences, brought independence for Namibia and the end to the Apartheid regime in South Africa.
The speaker of the National Assembly (parliament) of Angola, Roberto de Almeida presided over the ceremony which was attended by delegations of Cuba, Namibia, South African and Russia.
At the occasion, Roberto de Almeida said that the prophecy of António Agostinho Neto, stating that "Our battle shall continue in Namibia, in Zimbabwe and in South Africa", was fulfilled under the guidance of the Angolan Head of State, José Eduardo dos Santos, in the framework of the positive changes that resulted from the Cuito Cuanavale Battle.
According to him, by achieving independence on 11 November 1975, Angola clearly showed its commitment of fighting alongside all the oppressed peoples of the world for their total freedom.
"Namibia, Zimbabwe and South Africa were our priorities", stressed Roberto de Almeida, who was speaking in representation of the Head of State, José Eduardo dos Santos.
Another important aspect of the ceremony commemorating the 20th anniversary of the Cuito Cuanavale Battle was the laying of the foundation stone for the construction of the monument in honour to the heroes who perished in this battle.
The pyramid-shaped monument symbolizes the resistance and courage of those who fought in the Cuito Cuanavale Battle in 1988. It will also have two water mirrors representing the Cuito and Cuanavale rivers.
The great battle, happened on 23rd March 1988, with the operation dubbed "Let us celebrate October," in light of 17 October 1918 date of the Soviet Revolution.
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