Namibia takes the floor to congratulate Your Excellency Dr. John Pombe Joseph Magufuli, President of the United Republic of Tanzania, and outgoing Chairperson of SADC, for the successful conclusion of your tenure at the helm of our regional organization. I equally congratulate, Your Excellency President Filipe Jacinto Nyusi for taking over the leadership of SADC at a very difficult time for our region and humanity at large.

On this day, 54 years ago, Namibians crossed the point of no return in the fight against colonial occupation. On this day, August 26, 1966, our freedom fighters launched their first armed attack on a South African military contingent at Omugulu-Gwombashe. On this day, Namibians decided to become their own liberators.

Today, as we mark the commemoration of Heroes Day, we reflect on those distinguished patriots, whose bravery, foresight, fortitude and love of country has left an indelible mark on the legacy of Namibia. It is therefore my honour to join all Namibians, across the length and breadth of this country, to share in the pride of commemorating these exemplary men and women, whose deeds embody the ethos of heroism.

Your Excellency, Volkan Bozkir, President of the 75th Session of the United Nations General Assembly,

Your Excellencies, Heads of State and Government,

Your Excellency Antonio Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

I wish to thank the Prime Ministers of Canada and Jamaica, as well as the Secretary General of the United Nations for organizing this important high-level event.

Greetings from Africa and Namibia in particular. Africa is on the march. At present, the Third Wave African leaders are dealing with processes, systems and institutions. However, the challenges of realizing the potential of the New Africa have never been greater.

I am delighted to be here today, to launch the SWAPO Party's national election campaign for the 6th Regional Council and Local Authority Elections.

Following the Presidential and National Assembly Elections of 2019, during which the SWAPO Party was returned as the Ruling Party and myself as Head of State, I said to Namibians, "I have heard you".

In my New Years' Message to the nation I emphasized the same message by saying, "As Government, we have listened to the cries and calls of the sovereigns. We have heard you. You pointed out areas of improvement to us. On unemployment, we heard you. On the economic situation, we heard you. On the lack of decent shelter, we heard you. On the Namibia Students Financial Assistance Fund (NSFAF), where scores of students are left in dire straits due to poor implementation and execution of duties, we heard you. In the fishing sector, where fishermen lost their jobs as a consequence of mismanagement, we have heard you."

SWAPO PARTY
OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY GENERAL

Media Release

On 17 October 2020, the President of the SWAPO Party, Comrade Hage G. Geingob successfully launched our Campaign for the November 2020 Regional and Local Authority Elections. Our President, Comrade Geingob delivered a highly inspiring message to the rank and file of the SWAPO Party in order to mobilize supporters and sympathizers to campaign hard for an overwhelming majority of votes for the forthcoming elections.

Good Afternoon Fellow Namibians,

Since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic in our country in March this year, I have addressed the Namibian people through live Media Conferences in order to share information on major developments in our response and preparedness to the pandemic. The last time I addressed the Nation on our COVID-19 National Response Measures, was on 17 September 2020, the date that also marked the lapse of the State of Emergency, which I had declared six months earlier in March. Subsequent to that address, the Minister of Health and Social Services issued directives on Public Health COVID-19 General Regulations under the provisions of the Public and Environmental Health Act of 2015. These Regulations were in force from 23 September and are due to lapse at midnight, tonight, 21 October 2020.