As Zambia celebrates its 58 years of independence, President of Namibia Hage Geingob has commended the people of Zambia for supporting Namibia during the years of its liberation struggle.
Zambia gained its independence in October 1964 from Rhodesian, South African and Portuguese colonial forces.
Speaking at the Independence Day celebration ceremony yesterday, President Geingob who was the guest of honour at festivities in Lusaka said there is an unbreakable bond of kinship between the people of Zambia and Namibia.
“It is a bond that rests on the foundation of pan-Africanism and is buttressed by the pillars of freedom, justice and equality,” Geingob said.
He said it is for these ideals that they took up the fight for independence.
“When Namibians were victims of apartheid aggression and sought refuge and a staging ground to launch their fight for independence, the people of Zambia, under the leadership of the late president Kenneth Kaunda, stretched out a hand of solidarity,” he said.
Geingob said Swapo set up the Nyango Health and Education Centre in Zambia, which at some point rendered services to about 5,000 Namibians.
“Against all odds, we stood together and prevailed and defeated the scourges of colonialism and racism. Now we stand together once more, in jubilation, as free Zambians, free Namibians, and free Africans,” he said.
Geingob said it is time to translate freedom into prosperity. “Thus we have outlined our vision for the new Africa we want through our Agenda 2063.
“We must be the authors of our own history, and the navigators of our own destiny. Let our freedom and independence drive us to collectively achieve great milestones,” he said.