The 16-year-old Cornelius Shimwaafeni from Omutundungu Village in Oshana, who saved nine-month-old twins from drowning, will also be conferred a national hero status by President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah tomorrow at the commemoration of Heroes Day. 

The twins were allegedly thrown in the water pond by their 24-year-old mother.

Shimwaafeni was herding livestock on May 17th when a woman walked past and allegedly threw her nine-month-old twin babies into a water pond.

Just as she left, Shimwaafeni jumped in to rescue the twins and performed CPR before taking them for safety.

The 24-year-old mother was arrested on charges of attempted murder and remanded in custody. 

The news shocked the nation, but it was Shimwaafeni's good deeds that saved two lives. 

President Nandi-Ndaitwah hailed the 16-year-old's swift action.

"Glory must go to a 16-year-old boy by the name Cornelius Shimwaafeni who did a heroic deed on behalf of 3 million Namibians by saving two lives. That boy has done it on behalf of all of us, and I was touched by his response when the media asked him, What were you thinking when you had to jump in that water to save those babies?' His response was quick; he said, 'I just said to myself, "If these kids are going to die, let me die with them." 'In my capacity and the power invested in me by the Namibian constitution, I have decided to recognise Cornelius as a national hero."

Shimwaafeni is not priding himself, explaining that his being close to the pond at that particular time was God's timing.

"I am happy and still in disbelief because I didn't expect this. I am now a national hero just by saving the twins. I want to thank the President again for giving me this life-changing status."