Luderitz — President Hifikepunye Pohamba says, as Head of State, he is not a puppet of the Founding President and Father of the Namibian Nation, Dr Sam Nujoma.

"As we commemorate this day, let me, as I have done in the past, again recognise the contribution of our Founding President and Father of the Namibian Nation, Comrade Sam Shafiishuna Nujoma. When I say this they say that I'm a puppet referring to him, praising the Founding President for the role he played during the liberation struggle. I'm then a progressive puppet. Those people who say that I'm a puppet, they too have been puppets," he said.

He also recognised the pivotal role and contributions that jailed freedom fighter Andimba Toivo ya Toivo, John Nankudhu and many others had made. He said the national armed liberation struggle was successful not only because the cadres of PLAN were well trained and dedicated to accomplish their mission, but also because of the invaluable support that they received from Namibian citizens across the country.

Many fearless Namibians, put their own safety at risk to provide food, water, shelter, clothing and, above all, information about the movements and whereabouts of enemy forces.

Pohamba said, "Everyone trained in guerrilla warfare will tell you that one of the most vital ingredients for a successful mission is information."

He said this is what many Namibians of goodwill provided to the brave cadres of PLAN over many years. Pohamba said this also enabled PLAN to wage the armed struggle in all parts of the country.

"This demonstrated the true national character of our struggle, the unity of the Namibian people and our collective determination to defeat the oppressive system and colonial apartheid," he said.

Pohamba further said one of the major turning points in the struggle for Namibians freedom was the launching of the armed liberation struggle at Omugulu-gwoOmbashe on August 26,1966.

On that historic day, Pohamba said, the armed combatants of the South West African Liberation Army (SWALA), the frontrunner of the People's Liberation Army of Namibia (PLAN), fired the first salvos of Namibia's liberation struggle.

"This brave act, announced to the occupations army of racists South Africa and indeed to the rest of the world that the Namibian people, under the leadership of SWAPO, were ready to reclaim their freedom by any means necessary. It was followed by the intensification of the struggle on all fronts, including intense diplomacy mobilisation of the international community to support our cause," he said. The liberation struggle lasted 23 years and was crowned with the achievement of independence on March 21, 1990.

"That historic event heralded a new chapter and a new era in the history of our country."

The President said on that historic day, Namibia established a democratic nation underpinned by constitutional principals of respect for human dignity and the rule of law.

"For the first time in the history of our nation, all our people were able to enjoy the constitutionally protected rights to freedom of movement, freedom of association, freedom of expression and freedom from racial discrimination," he stated.

This, he said, was a far cry from the brutality of apartheid oppression where the movement of people was restricted by means of curfews, where freedom of expression was curtailed and fundamental human rights of citizens were trampled upon and violated with impunity by enforcers of apartheid. He said there have been many patriots, who have contributed in countless ways to the attainment of freedom and nationhood.

There are political leaders of the liberation movements, former PLAN combatants, as well as citizens who performed extra-ordinary deeds for the love of the country. Sam Nujoma, he said, had initiated both the formation of SWAPO party and PLAN and served as their president and commander-in-chief respectively, till the day of independence on March 21, 1990.

Pohamba said on March 21, 1990 the ugly past was buried, and the nation ushered in a new era of peace, stability and socio-economic development for the benefit of all people.

"For this we pay homage and give our honour to all those brave sons and daughters of Namibia, who made this possible through their sacrifices."