For the record

A NAMASEB WRITES:

Allow me to use your good newspaper to give a brief resume how I (A Namaseb) knew the late Pastor Festus N Naholo.

We were Lutherans from spiritual point of view, friends and Swapo party comrades in Arandis.

That is why I attended his ­memorial service held at ELCIN Hosianna Parish in Windhoek on the 1st of November 2019. Sometimes our people mistakenly inform the public of incidents inadequately.

As you may recall during 1976–1978 we organised two successful strikes at Rössing Uranium Mine due to the oppressive apartheid laws, which was followed by two bomb explosions in Swakopmund (bakery) and Walvis Bay (butchery). Shortly after these incidents two organized groups from Swakopmund and Arandis went into exile.

The intelligence squad from South Africa under the leadership of Captain Botha was tasked to make several raids on our houses in Arandis and work places at the mine. Following these actions, the undermentioned comrades were arrested and detained in Swakopmund prison.

1. Myself (A Namaseb)

2. Advocate A Pickering

3. Late Bonzaaier (lawyer by profession)

4. Maria Uukunde (Now Dax) and

5. The late Pastor Festus N Naholo

The late comrade Naholo and other fellow Swapo comrades went into exile in 1978, after some of us were released from prison. I was targeted and continuously summonsed for interrogation.

I was locked up now and then in solitary confinement in the Arandis police holding cells, blind folded and tortured.

This was a usual routine which the Arandis police followed until such time the mine decided to get rid of me and I was dismissed in an inhuman manner in 1981.