FIRST Republican president Kenneth Kaunda was on Saturday night presented with a national honour for his contribution to the struggle for freedom in Namibia.

Dr Kaunda received the honour during an official gala dinner at Hotel Safari in Windhoek held in recognition of the leaders who contributed to the freedom of Namibia.

Others honoured were the late Kwame Nkurumah of Ghana, late Julius Nyerere of Tanzania, Angola's first president Antonio Augustino Neto and the former leader of the Africa National Congress (ANC) in South Africa, the late Oliver Tambo.

Namibian President-elect Hifikepunye Pohamba said Namibia was grateful for the support and dedication received from progressive forces and friendly countries during that country's freedom struggle.

President Pohamba said the freedom to which the selfless leaders contributed had opened new windows of hope for the people of Namibia.

He said Namibia was committed to further strengthening of bilateral and multilateral cooperation with the African continent and international organisations.

President Pohamba said the country would also continue to play its role in the Southern African Development Community in order to accelerate the integration agenda in the region.

He said it was important for Africa to establish strategic partnerships to address challenges facing the continent.

He said Africa should engage the international community as a united front to effectively advance the interests of the continent.

President Pohamba said Africa should do everything possible to remove the stigma attached to the continent as a place of poverty, disease and hunger.

He also said Africa should unite in confronting the challenges posed by globalisation.

Some heads of State present at the occasion included President Rupiah Banda, Zimbabwe's Robert Mugabe, former Nigerian president Olusegun Obasanjo, Democratic Republic of Congo's Joseph Kabila, Seychelles vice-president Joseph Belmont, and the former president of Finland, Martti Ahtisari.

-Mr Pohamba was sworn in for a second term as president of Namibia at Independence Stadium in Windhoek.

This is after he won a landslide victory in the elections held on November 27 and 28 last year.

Also sworn in during the inauguration ceremony was Namibia's Prime Minister Nahas Angula and Deputy Prime Minister Murup Hauficu.

The ceremony was attended by foreign dignitaries who included presidents Banda, Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe, Jacob Zuma of South Africa, Armando Guebuzza of Mozambique and Dr Kaunda.

Meanwhile, President Banda returned from Namibia last evening and was welcomed at Lusaka International Airport by Vice-President George Kunda, Cabinet ministers and other Government officials.

The president, who was accompanied to Namibia by Foreign Affairs Minister Kabinga Pande, landed at the airport at 19:00 hours and did not address journalists.