The Swapo Party held a candlelight vigil at the party's headquarters to honour the heroes and heroines who lost their lives during the Cassinga Massacre in 1978 in Angola.
On the 4th of May in 1978, an event took place in the Cassinga refugee camp in Southern Angola.
An airborne attack led by South African Defence Force troops claimed the lives of more than 600 Namibians and maimed many more.
President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah said the day should never be forgotten, as it serves as a guiding line to pave the future of the country.
"Surely it was very clear that the apartheid regime, when they attacked Cassinga, thought they were going to kill the spirit of our revolution and bring it to an end in a manner that they found fit, but they were wrong. Their action has even strengthened us more."
Swapo Secretary General, Sophia Shaningwa, said that that day was the darkest day in Swapo's history.
She said that, although many of them were not present during the attack, they felt the wrath of the imperialists, who showed no mercy, taking the lives of hundreds of innocent Namibians.
"We remain put, praying and doing our introspection and asking ourselves hundreds of questions. How did I survive? How did you survive? How did my sister survive? Because it was a terrible day when many lives were lost. Thank God we are here, some of us. Though we didn't go into exile, perhaps that time when Cassinga happened, we also suffered the wrath of the imperialist acts."
Speaking on behalf of the survivors, Lucrencia Ndemanane, who was only a toddler at the time, expressed gratitude to the Cuban forces who came to their aid during the attack.
She said they will always remember those who sacrificed their lives for the freedom and independence of the country.
"The independence of our country did not come on a silver platter. As a nation, we fought and sacrificed for it. Indeed, our independence and national hold are in the proud history of bravery and the spirit of patriotism. We therefore always remember and cherish the supreme sacrifice made by our compatriots who gave their lives at Cassinga for Namibia's freedom and independence."
About 16 Cubans lost their lives while supporting Swapo to fight back against the oppressors.