The Ohaihana community in the Ohangwena Region celebrated the life of liberation struggle stalwart Tobias Hainyeko at a remembrance 59 years since he was killed in 1967.
 
His remains have never been recovered.
 
The remembrance event was attended by, among others, the First Gentleman Epaphras Ndaitwah and liberation struggle hero Elise Haulyondjaba.
 
Fifty-nine years after his death, family members, former liberation fighters, and government officials still remember his good deeds.
 
Last month, President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah symbolically erected a grave for Hainyeko at the Heroes' Acre in Windhoek.
 
The President said the government remains committed to finding Hainyeko's remains for a dignified burial.
 
Her message was delivered by Ohangwena Governor Kadiva Hamutumwa.
 
 
“His life stands as a testament to the truth that freedom is never an accidental occurrence of history but rather a manifested force of action taken by men and women who look upon oppression, recognize its illegitimacy, and determine that independence or death, we shall win.”
 
 
Dr. Nandi-Ndaitwah also expressed gratitude to Hainyeko's family for organising the Remembrance Day.
 
 “The Republic of Namibia exists today as a free and constitutional state because leaders like Tobias Hainyeko did not give up until the very end. I express my gratitude towards the Hainyeko Family for organizing this important occasion of memorialization, to remember and honour our hero and first commander."
  
Former President Hifikepunye Pohamba shared personal memories of Hainyeko.
  
He recalled bidding Hainyeko farewell before he left Zambia for Namibia in May 1967.
 
"Hainyeko told me that we could not just leave our soldiers there and that he would be going to see them in Pungu, Zambia, but he had to travel through Livingstone. He needed transport, so we requested enough fuel for him to be dropped off in Livingstone. I also allocated a driver to him. We went alone, and we took this picture when we bade farewell to him.”
 
For Hainyeko's family and former liberation struggle fighters, his legacy is one of courage, sacrifice, and commitment to Namibia's freedom.
  
"Surely, we shall never appreciate this gentleman enough. We can, in no uncertain terms, hereby declare that we shall forever live by and promote the legacy of Tobias,” added retired Lieutenant General Martin Shali.