Africa-Press – Angola. The contribution of King Mandume Ya Ndemufayo in the liberation struggle against colonization in northern Namibia was highlighted this Friday by the Inspector General of the Defense Forces of that country, Brigadier General Ainima Blasius.
Ainima Blasius spoke these words on the sidelines of the visit to the Rei Mandume Memorial Complex, located in the village of Oihole, in the municipality of Namacunde, in Cunene, in the south of Angola and north of Namibia, erected in his honor.
On the occasion, he recalled that Mandume was a fighting warrior who at the time defended his lands with determination and contributed a lot in the liberation struggle against colonization in this territory.
“Angola is our home, as we have good memories since the liberation struggle against colonization, which promoted the independence of our country, therefore, we feel welcome whenever we come”, he acknowledged.
He referred that being a man with a historical legacy, his accomplishments should be respected, followed and preserved for future generations.
Ainima Blasius said that Namibia will continue to preserve its legacy and the culture that characterizes the two peoples, since in the northern part there is also a Queen who share the traditional ties of the region.
In turn, the Inspector General of National Defence, Former Combatants and Veterans of the Fatherland, General Gouveia João Sá Miranda, said that both Angola and Namibia are enjoying the benefits of the sacrifice consented by Mandume, in defense of sovereignty.
He recalled that for Agostinho Neto, in his pan-Africanist dimension, he said that “in Namibia, Zimbabwe and South Africa was the continuation of our struggle”, which has been noted in the bonds of friendship between the nations.
Gouveia João Sá Miranda underlined that in the context of the Angolan resistance, the sovereign continues to be a great reference both for Angola and for Namibia.
The National Defense General Inspection bodies of the two States met, from the 12th to the 16th of this month, in the city of Ondjiva (Cunene), where they concluded the preparation of the guide for granting certificates and medals of honor for the countries of the SADC Region.
Oihole Fights
From Oihole, the kingdom sent out small guerrilla groups that slaughtered invaders throughout the kingdom. On October 30, 1916, the Portuguese launched a major operation, commanded by Raul Andrade, with forces of at least seven thousand men, who were betrayed by a Kwanhama trap, having been defeated.
Battles of Pembe and Mongua
The successive defeats inflicted by the Kwanhamas on the Portuguese led the top commander of the Portuguese troops on the lower Cunene to make a report on the situation, which forced the urgent departure from Mozambique of General Pereira d’Eça, who, upon arriving in Angola, was appointed governor -general and supreme head of the Portuguese Armed Forces. The new governor-general organized himself and, in August 1915, ordered combat against the Kwanhama on the outskirts of Mongua.
The battle of Mongua is considered the biggest and deadliest battle for the Portuguese throughout the entire occupation of Africa. It is described as the Battle of Battles, under the command of Mandume ya Ndemufayo, the King of the Kwanyamas.
Biographical references
Born in 1892, in the locality of Embulunganga, municipality of Cuanhama, Mandume ya Ndemufayo is the son of Ndemufayo ya Haihambo and Ndapona ya Shikende
It belonged to the most powerful kingdom of the Ovambos tribe, commanded the destinies of its people, in one of the most difficult periods in history against the Portuguese colonial occupation from 1911 to 1917.
His courage, resistance, determination and bravery were marked in the tradition of the Ambos, who dubbed him “The incomparable knight”.
The king died on February 6, 1917 in the village of Oihole, municipality of Namacunde, by suicide.
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