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In Honour of a Legend: Andimba Toivo Ya Toivo

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In Honour of a Legend: Andimba Toivo Ya Toivo Photo: Nelson Mandela Foundation/Debbie Yazbek In honour of a legend A Publication of WHEN ICONS MET … Namibian struggle icon Herman Andimba Toivo ya Toivo and former President of South Africa Nelson Rolihlahla ‘Madiba’ Mandela spent years together on Robben Island as political prisoners. The photo was taken on 6 May 2010 when Ya Toivo visited Mandela at his office. PAGE | 2 HERMAN ANDIMBA TOIVO YA TOIVO AT 90 FRIDAY 22 AUGUST 2014 HERMAN ANDIMBA TOIVO YA TOIVO AT 90 Foreword WAPO lawmaker Kazenambo Ka- ia have overlooked Ya Toivo in the many labour system and then to agitate for the Hardened, perhaps, but if he was embit- zenambo is given to easy outbursts expensive accolades showered on a few of total freedom of its citizens. tered, Ya Toivo has done a very good job not Sof emotions. But he is hardly a their leaders, we, at The Namibian, were For someone who has achieved so much, to show it to his former enemies and com- rabble-rouser. In fact, while most politi- still shocked when founding President Sam Ya Toivo is modest if you follow what he rades alike. cians evoke rhetoric to whip up fervour for Nujoma pointedly declined a request for a says in this supplement and what he has He has continued to play no small part in personal expediency, Kazenambo often lets tribute to Ya Toivo in this publication. said since his activism became public in the shaping Namibia as a democratic country, rip at his own expense. Thus, his outbursts We still do not know what to make of it 1950s. but has done so quietly and with humility. cannot be dismissed as the calculated rants and can only hope our first President was Even his apartheid enemies, while vilify- We can only refer you to another of his of a politician. ill-advised. ing him, would not denegrade his status in messages contained in this publication as he It was thus telling when in April this year The Nelson Mandela Foundation jumped the push for the independence of then South turns 90. KK took a swipe at his own party, Swapo, at the opportunity to honour Ya Toivo on his West Africa. “To the youth and students, I ask you to for not treating the founder of their party, 90 th birthday, saying Madiba himself would Unclassified intelligence files of the apart- dedicate yourself to hard work and to strug- Herman Andimba Toivo ya Toivo, with the have gone to great lengths to acknowledge heid regime refer to Ya Toivo as a “martyr gle against selfishness and greed. Be honest respect he deserves. the feats of his fellow Robben Island pris- leader”, a “very good orator” with an above and stay focused… The struggle to develop Kazenambo was joined by another of the oner, whom he described as a “formidable average intelligence. our beloved Namibia and to share its wealth ruling party’s younger leaders, Peya Mush- freedom fighter”. One part states: “Ya Toivo has since his among all of our people will take longer elenga, in lamenting that the former liber- President Hifikepunye Pohamba delivered incarceration (on Robben Island) not relent- than the political struggle, but where there is ation movement has hugely underplayed his part like a statesman would. ed his anti-white point of view. He is surly, a will, there is always a way.” Ya Toivo’s place in the country’s freedom. Long-term comrades and friends of Ya moody and shows no respect or cooperation. This supplement is our contribution to Mushelenga, the Deputy Minister of Foreign Toivo added their voices to celebrate what is He refuses to communicate with any official Namibia and Namibians, so that we remem- Affairs, complained that Ya Toivo was more undoubtedly another milestone in the life of and his general behaviour is poor. He does ber what drove our forebears and continue to revered in South Africa than in his country, an icon. not summit to any authority and is unsatis- strive for freedom and justice with care for for which he probably suffered more at No living Namibian could possibly claim fied to be in held in a SouthA frican prison. fellow human beings and the environment the hands of the apartheid regime than any to have played a more pivotal role in the His general prognosis can be described that we live in. Swapo leader could claim. liberation of Namibia at the time when as bad and there is no question about any Despite the undercurrents of why Swapo Ya Toivo led a few others to first form an form of rehabilitation. He is embittered and Tangeni Amupadhi and the government of independent Namib- organisation to oppose the slavish migrant hardened.” Editor A message from Andimba Toivo ya Toivo Dear comrades and friends AM grateful to be given this opportunity to greet you on my 90th birthday. I most Isincerely thank the Namibian people for the outpouring of love and best wishes that you have showered on me as I approached this milestone. I am proud to be part of a generation of HOME SWEET HOME … men and women who were able to achieve Andimba Toivo ya Toivo is the noble goal that we set for ourselves: to seen kissing the Namibian liberate our motherland and to restore our soil upon his return in dignity as equal members of the human 1989. To his left is the late family. We followed in the footsteps of our Swapo Party chairman David Meroro. brave ancestors, who were prepared to sacri- fice their lives to challenge foreign domina- tion and oppression. The key to our success was that we succeeded to unite the peoples of our land in a common vision. Out of the darkest era emerged the beautiful idea that we are all Namibians. Inspired by this idea, we reached Photo: The Namibian Archives the first goal of our struggle: an independent and sovereign Namibia. This is the foun- dation on which we must build in order to achieve the well-being of our people. In the recent weeks, many have asked me how I managed to survive repeated deten- tions, torture and imprisonment. I can only say that I vowed to myself not to allow my commitment. We must hold hands with our To the youth and students, I ask you struggle, but where there is a will, there is oppressors, torturers and captors to defeat brothers and sisters not only in Namibia, but to dedicate yourself to hard work and to always a way. me. I had no doubt that we would succeed. across the globe, to reach this goal. struggle against selfishness and greed. Be I am a believer in the Namibian people: Namibians are not losers. I knew that I was I am a happy person today because the gift honest and stay focused. Listen to the advice that once we set out to do something, there not alone and we were not alone in our of long life has enabled me to enjoy the In- of your parents. We need you to develop is no doubt we will succeed - no matter what struggle. We knew that the decent people of dependence of the Land of the Brave for the yourselves and to excel as professionals, ac- happens. the world were on our side. past 24 years. Many of those who wanted ademics, artisans, entrepreneurs and public I thank my family, and again I thank the I am confident that the succeeding gen- to destroy me physically and mentally have servants in order to make our country the entire Namibian nation for the support and erations will have the courage to dedicate passed on, but I am still here. I continue best place to live in the world. love that you have given me. themselves to the next phase of our struggle: to exercise every morning and to work to The struggle to develop our beloved to end poverty and inequality. This noble achieve my set objectives every day. I urge Namibia and to share its wealth among all of Andimba Toivo Ya Toivo goal can also be achieved through unity and the young people to follow this example. our people will take longer than the political 22 August 2014 THE special supplement was compiled in honour and as a tribute by The Namibian Copyright: newspaper to the 90th birthday of Namibian struggle hero and political icon Herman The Free Press of Namibia (Pty) Ltd. Andimba Toivo ya Toivo. Coordination of articles was done by Christof Maletsky while advertising was under the Strategic Publications Department. Layout and This special supplement can also be accessed on our design by Charlton de Waal. Published by the Free Press of Namibia (Pty) Ltd. website at www.namibian.com.na PAGE | 3 FRIDAY 22 AUGUST 2014 HERMAN ANDIMBA TOIVO YA TOIVO AT 90 SPECIAL FRIENDS … Andimba Toivo ya Toi- vo’s relationship with the former Editor of The Namibian, Gwen Lister, dates back to years before independence of Namibia. As a result, the two meet from time to time and when Ya Toivo retired from active politics he took up the challenge of being an editor of the paper for one day. Photos: Tanja Bause and Sheefeni Nikodemus For Andimba at 90 From humble roots in Omangundu the young man that was you dreamed of liberation to get your country back. In a journey spanning decades moving mountains for a cause, and inspiring many to do the same. Defiant in the dock along with compatriots you berated the colonisers who responded with draconian ire.
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