Member of Parliament Austin Samupwa urges Namibians to honour Cassinga heroes beyond annual ritual.

He made the remarks during the Cassinga Day commemoration at Kamupupu village in the Kavango West Region.

Joining the rest of the country, some residents of the Kavango West Region gathered at Kamupupu village to commemorate Cassinga Day – one of the darkest yet most defining chapters in Namibian history.

Member of Parliament Austin Samupwa called on Namibians not to reduce Cassinga Day to a mere ritual but to ensure that those who perished during the liberation struggle are honoured.

"To try and just do things because it's Cassinga Day loses meaning because it is just the usual thing: Cassinga, Cassinga. It must be a call for responsibility. It must be a call to responsibility. The foremost question is, are we honouring their sacrifices in the way we live?

He says honouring fallen heroes and heroines means fighting poverty and unemployment and ensuring that development reaches every village.

"Don't go and start drinking alcohol, forget about school, smoke marijuana, beat other people, or steal. Those are evils that Cassinga did not die for or come for. Guard your property. Whatever government has put in place, whether it's a road or water infrastructure, ensure it is protected. And it's only the youth who have energy who can do that. Let the spirit of Cassinga guide in all the days of your life."