Cassinga Day, 4 May 1978 (42 years ago)
should be seen within the context of Namibian
liberation struggle whereby sons and daughters of the
soil have sacrificed their lives for freedom,
dignity and respect of each person as created in the
image and likeness of God.
We learn six lessons from the Cassinga event:
(a) independence did not come about on a silver plate –
meaning that it involved a lot of sacrifice: lives,
resources etc.
(b) we should thank and acknowledge the contribution of
men and women who tirelessly offered themselves for
the just cause in order for each Namibian person to
enjoy the dignity of being recognized today as a human
being;
(c) that peace is an expensive commodity and should not be
tempered with in any circumstances through hidden
agenda in the form of, among others, gaining public
recognition;
(d) we should not forget the involvement and intervention
of God in all these events or processes/unfoldings;
(e) in order to preserve/protect our hard-won freedom and
human emancipation – let us unite therefore, and fight
against all forms of destructive forces: e.g. corruption,
tribalism, indifference, greed, structural or institutional
injustices, and consequently, endeavour upholding our
democracy; and
(f) above all, let us continue praying unceasingly for our
beloved country, especially during this time of
COVID-19 pandemic, to enjoy the long-deserved
peace and tranquility in the spirit of national
reconciliation.
+Archbishop Liborius Ndumbukuti Nashenda, OMI
