Namibian President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah on Sunday paid an emotional visit to the historic Kongwa Liberation Camp in Dodoma Region, praising Tanzania’s pivotal contribution to the liberation of Namibia and other African nations.
The visit, which formed part of her state visit to Tanzania, underscored the enduring ties between the two countries, forged during the struggle against colonialism and apartheid.
Accompanied by senior Tanzanian government officials led by Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office (Policy, Parliament, Coordination and Persons with Disabilities), Prof Palamagamba Kabudi, President Nandi-Ndaitwah toured key sites within the camp that once served as a training and refuge centre for African liberation fighters.
The Namibian leader visited several historical facilities, including the dormitory once occupied by Namibia’s founding president, the late Sam Nujoma, classrooms where freedom fighters received political and military training, trenches, shooting ranges and burial grounds for liberation heroes.
She later laid wreaths and paid tribute at the graves of SWAPO freedom fighters buried at the camp. The site contains 12 graves, including those of SWAPO members, African National Congress (ANC) activists from South Africa and fighters from Mozambique’s FRELIMO movement.
Speaking to residents of Kongwa, President Nandi-Ndaitwah expressed gratitude to Tanzania for the sacrifices it made in supporting liberation movements across the continent.
She said Tanzania provided shelter, training and solidarity to freedom fighters from several African countries, including Namibia, describing the country as a cornerstone of Africa’s liberation history.
The President revealed that her late husband was among those who received training at the Kongwa camp, making the site personally significant to her family and to many Namibians whose independence journey was shaped by Tanzania’s support.
She said Namibia continues to cherish its historical relationship with Tanzania, noting that this was one of the reasons she invited President Samia Suluhu Hassan as a special guest during her inauguration and chose Tanzania among the first countries to visit after assuming office.
“I wanted to return and undertake a state visit to a country that has left a permanent mark on the history and identity of the Namibian nation,” she said.
President Nandi-Ndaitwah also met families of some of the liberation fighters who remained in Tanzania after the struggle and pledged to help reconnect them with relatives living in Namibia.
Established in 1964, the Kongwa Liberation Camp remains one of Africa’s most important symbols of the continent’s fight for freedom.
During the liberation era, the camp hosted and trained freedom fighters from several countries, serving as a strategic base for movements seeking independence and majority rule.
The camp stands as a lasting reminder of Tanzania’s role under the leadership of the late Mwalimu Julius Nyerere in supporting liberation movements across Southern Africa.
Before returning to Dar es Salaam, President Nandi-Ndaitwah visited a plot allocated by the Tanzanian government in the Government City area for the construction of Namibia’s embassy.
She said her government would soon take steps to develop the site, signalling a further strengthening of diplomatic and economic relations between the two countries.
Her visit to Kongwa not only revived memories of Africa’s liberation struggle but also highlighted the enduring partnership between Tanzania and Namibia one built on shared sacrifices, mutual respect and a common vision for the continent’s future.
