Luanda - The Southern African Development Community paid tribute in Gaborone, Botswana, to the heroes of the region's liberation fight who participated in the famous Battle of Cuito Cuanavale, in the Angolan southeast province of Cuando-Cubango.
The event took place at a ceremony held at the Embassy of Angola, in Gaborone, capital of Botswana and headquarters of the regional organization, in allusion to Southern Africa Liberation Day, marked on March 23.
Speaking at the ceremony, the director of Political Affairs, Defense and Security of SADC, Kula Ishmael Theletsane, praised the contribution of the heroes of the liberation struggle in Southern Africa to peace, security and integration in the region.
The diplomat urged SADC Member States to redouble their collective efforts to address contemporary challenges that persist in society, including poverty, deprivation and social inequalities.
"Southern African countries have made remarkable progress towards peace, security and integration due to the solid foundation laid by liberation heroes, who sacrificed their lives to create a better future", he highlighted.
On the occasion, the Angolan ambassador to Botswana and permanent representative to SADC, Beatriz Morais, defended the safeguarding of the region's hard-won freedom.
She highlighted the message given by the Angolan President, João Lourenço, in his capacity as president of SADC, on the Liberation Day of Southern Africa, according to which the future of the region "lies in our ability to educate future generations, together with our genuine determination collective effort to ensure sustainable peace”.
For his part, Zimbabwe's ambassador to Botswana and representative to SADC, Henry Batiraishe Mukonoweshuro, called on member states of the community to redouble efforts towards economic integration, with a view of turning the benefits of liberation into sustainable development for the region and to the world.
Southern African Liberation Day, celebrated on 23 March each year, was approved at the 38th SADC Heads of State and Government Summit, held in Windhoek, Namibia, to honor the men and women who sacrificed their lives in the Battle of Cuito Cuanavale and opened the way for regional integration and development.
The 23rd of March marks the defeat of the apartheid forces, on the 23rd of March 1988, in one of the fiercest conventional battles. DEPO/CF/DOJ
