This year’s Heroes’ Day ended with a debate about the recognition of heroes, sparked by the latest addition to Namibia’s national history – 16-year-old Kornelius Tulotokela Shimuafeni, the youngest person to be recognised as a national hero.
President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah and her advisors deserve commendation for recognising that the spirit of heroism did not end with the liberation struggle. Shimuafeni’s recognition is an important reminder that courage, selflessness and service to others are not qualities that belong exclusively to the generation that fought for Namibia’s independence.
His recognition sends a powerful message to the nation, particularly to young people: one does not have to be a liberation struggle veteran to serve humanity or demonstrate extraordinary courage. The values that inspired our forefathers – selflessness, bravery, compassion and service to others – continue to find expression in the current generation.
However, this recognition should also compel us to confront a significant gap in our national story. Thirty-six years after independence, there are countless Namibians whose extraordinary acts of courage, humanity and service have gone undocumented and unrecognised.
Meekulu Martha Mwadinomho Nelumbu is one such example. She used her personal resources to support vulnerable children, putting them through private schools and helping to set them up for adulthood. She went further by providing land on which some of her beneficiaries could build their homes. Hers is a powerful example of quiet, sustained heroism – the kind that often happens away from cameras and headlines. The University of Science and Technology of Namibia also deserves recognition for honouring her with a well-deserved honorary doctorate. Such recognition is important because it helps bring stories of ordinary people who have done extraordinary things into the public consciousness.
Remember Tulonga Neputa? Another powerful example of contemporary heroism. She risked her own life to rescue a toddler trapped in a vehicle that was about to catch fire following a road accident in which the child’s father perished. Tulonga was travelling in a bus full of colleagues when they stopped at the accident scene where there already other on lookers. While her fellow passengers watched in fear, some calling out her name and others recording the unfolding scene, she alone jumped out of the bus and ran towards the burning vehicle to save the child.Without stopping to consider the danger to herself, she reached into the wreckage and pulled the toddler to safety. Her actions capture the very essence of ones courage to put another person’s life before their own safety, even in the face of imminent danger.
People such as Seun Naude have also dedicated themselves to saving lives and serving humanity in different circumstances, whether on the roads, in water-related accidents or in encounters with dangerous animals. His commitment to saving lives is, in itself, an expression of heroism. In Windhoek, there is also a young man who goes into the streets to cut the hair of children living on the streets. It may appear to be a simple gesture, but it is an act of dignity, compassion and humanity. These are the stories that deserve to be recorded and celebrated.
While we celebrate contemporary heroes, Namibia must also continue searching for the untold heroes of the colonial and liberation era.
There are stories of medical doctors who risked their lives by travelling at night to collect injured PLAN fighters and turning their homes into makeshift care facilities. These doctors did not only risk their own lives; they also put the lives of their children and families at risk. There were communities that risked severe consequences by secretly burying fallen PLAN fighters at night because it was too dangerous to do so during the day.
Some families became known for assisting freedom fighters and paid a devastating price. Their homes were destroyed and family members were killed because of their support. These sacrifices form part of the foundation upon which our freedom was built. Yet many of these stories remain largely undocumented. Namibia therefore needs a broader and more inclusive conversation about what constitutes a hero. We should consider establishing a national Heroes Recognition Committee comprising historians, community leaders, civil society representatives, researchers and other relevant stakeholders. Its mandate could be to identify, verify and document acts of exceptional courage, sacrifice, service and humanity across generations.
The country could also establish a national roll or Book of Fame for heroes, creating a permanent record of those who have made extraordinary contributions to society. Recognition should not be about creating celebrities. It should be about preserving our national memory, teaching future generations about the values we want them to uphold, and reminding ordinary Namibians that their actions matter. The recognition of Shimuafeni is therefore more than the honouring of one young Namibian. It is an opportunity to broaden our understanding of heroism and to begin documenting the many stories that remain hidden. Namibia must ensure that its heroes do not become footnotes in history. Those who sacrificed for our freedom, those who protect lives today and those who quietly transform communities through acts of kindness and courage all deserve to be seen, remembered and honoured.
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