Staff Reporter
A NATIONAL pledge that violence shall never define our future was at the forefront as Vice President Lucia Witbooi represented President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah at the unveiling of the tombstone for the victims of the 19 February 1988 Oshakati Barclays Bank (now First National Bank) bombing. The solemn ceremony took place on Sunday, in Ongwediva, Oshana Region. The event honoured the lives lost and acknowledged the enduring impact of the tragedy on survivors, families, and the nation.
The bombing, which occurred during the final and turbulent years of Namibia’s liberation struggle, claimed the lives of innocent civilians and left many others injured. Witbooi highlighted that the victims were ordinary citizens—men, women, and children—carrying out their daily affairs in what should have been a safe civilian space.
Photos: NBC Digital News/MICT Oshana Regional Office
“Unveiling this tombstone is not just marking a grave but embedding the memory of pain, loss, and sacrifice into our national consciousness,” Witbooi said. “As a nation, we pledge that violence shall never define our future, reconciliation shall remain a cornerstone of our democracy, and unity shall remain stronger than division.”
The Vice President added that the attack was intended to create fear, intimidate, and destabilise SWAPO and the People’s Liberation Army of Namibia (PLAN). Yet, rather than breaking the spirit of Namibians, it strengthened national unity and exposed the cruelty of apartheid-era oppression.
She paid tribute to the families of the victims, the survivors living with physical and emotional scars, and the leadership of the Oshana Region for ensuring the gravesite reflects respect and honour for those lost. “The greatest tribute we can offer the victims is to protect peace and stability, safeguard justice, strengthen unity, and ensure that never again shall innocent lives be caught in the crossfire of conflict,” she said.
The ceremony concluded with a moment of silence in remembrance of all those who perished in the tragic bombing, affirming the country’s continued commitment to reconciliation, nation-building, and the preservation of Namibia’s hard-won peace.
