The Embassy of the Republic of Angola in Botswana on 28th March 2024 hosted the commemoration of the Southern Africa Liberation Day at the Embassy in Gaborone, Botswana which falls on 23rd March every year.
The Southern Africa Liberation Day was endorsed by the 38th Summit of Heads of State and Government of the Southern African Development Community (SADC), held in Windhoek, Republic of Namibia with the aim of honouring men and women who sacrificed their lives for liberation of southern Africa and paved the way for regional integration and development.
Ambassador of the Republic of Angola to Botswana and Representative of Angola to the SADC, Her Excellency Dr Beatriz de Morais, Chairperson of the SADC Committee of Ambassadors and High Commissioners hosted the SADC Ambassadors and High Commissioners based in Botswana, Government Officials, Officials from SADC Secretariat, and other guests to the commemoration of Southern Africa Liberation Day.
H.E. Dr. Morais underscored the significance of commemorating the day and reiterated the commemorative message by His Excellency João Manuel Gonçalves Lourenço, President of the Republic of Angola, in his capacity as the Chairperson of SADC on the Southern Africa Liberation Day on 23rd March 2024, "the future of Southern Africa lies in our ability to educate future generations, coupled with our genuine collective determination to ensure sustainable peace".
H.E. Dr. Morais stressed the call by the SADC Chairperson on the need to safeguard the hard-earned freedom of southern Africa. “As we celebrate Southern African Liberation Day, we must be steadfast in safeguarding the fundamental freedoms, liberties, peace and security of our nations and embrace and nurture our connective potential to triumph over any adversity we may face in the region, the continent and the world” said Ambassador Dr. Beatriz de Morais, in reference to the message by the Chairperson of SADC, H.E. João Lourenço.
H.E. Henry Batiraishe Mukonoweshuro, Ambassador of the Republic of Zimbabwe to Botswana and Representative to SADC, in his capacity as the Incoming Chairperson of the Committee of SADC Ambassadors and High Commissioners urged Member States to redouble their efforts towards economic integration with the view to translate the benefits of liberation to sustainable development for the SADC region and the world at large.
H.E. Ambassador Mukonoweshuro recalled that Southern African countries share a deep history dating back to the colonial period which led to the armed struggle in most of the countries. The Ambassador informed the guests that, as part of Zimbabwe’s continued efforts to preserve and celebrate the liberation story of the African continent, the Government of Zimbabwe has set aside a 53-acre piece of land outside Zimbabwe’s capital city of Harare for the Museum of African Liberation which will, amongst others, include the construction of a Pan-African multi-country facility to showcase the diverse African Liberation history.
On his part, Professor Kula Ishmael Theletsane, Director of the Organ on Politics Defence and Security Affairs at the SADC Secretariat, representing the SADC Executive Secretary, highlighted that the Southern African region has made remarkable progress towards peace, security, and political integration, owing to the solid foundation laid by liberation heroes who sacrificed their lives to create a better future.
Professor Theletsane urged Member States to redouble their collective efforts to address the contemporary challenges that persist in society including poverty, deprivation, and social inequalities, by embracing the spirit of Ubuntu for which African societies have been known for many years, including during the liberation struggle.
The Southern Africa Liberation Day is commemorated on 23rd March to remember the defeat of the Apartheid forces on 23 March 1988 at one of the fiercest conventional battles at Cuito Cuanavale of Kuando, Kubanho Province of Angola, leading to the liberation of Namibia, South Africa and the whole of Southern Africa.
