As the country prepares to commemorate Heroes Day on 26 August, NBC caught up with former PLAN combatant Bartholomeus Shangheta.

While reflecting on his time in exile, the former Otavi regional Councillor related fondly on development at his beloved town, Otavi, highlighting his contribution to its current stage.

This 68-year-old is dubbed the founding father of Otavi by many residents.

Like many young men at the time, he joined Swapo at the height of the struggle, following the Omungulumbashe camp attack on August 26, 1966.

Born in Endola, Ohangwena Region, Shangheta served in active military service in PLAN between 1980 and 1989, with stints in senior roles at Omungulumbashe camp and Jumbo camp in Angola, where he went by the name 'Shoombe'.

“I was trained in different fields, and later, we were selected to specialise as PLAN commissars. We were also PLAN instructors, like teachers, and were selected to educate and train PLAN combatants in both political and military matters.”

Following the struggle victory in 1989, Shangheta was subsequently sent to set the tone for Swapo's political base in Otavi in 1991.

He became the first regional councillor for the Otavi constituency in 1992.

“I was assigned by the SWAPO headquarters to come and organise the structure here. At the time, there were no proper structures in place; people were working without a clear organisational structure. We then established sections, branches and districts, and I began recruiting people here. I started with the teachers. It was through this work that I later became the first regional councillor for the Otavi Constituency.”

Having served as councillor for 15 years, Shangheta said he is proud of the development goals that he put in place and are now being rolled out.

“I was busy working with the people here and organising meetings. That is why you can see the difference in Otavi today. I started focusing on schools and health centres. At the time, there was no secondary school here.”

To date, the town boasts tar roads; a secondary and two primary schools; a fully fledged health center; ongoing housing development amongst many social amenities; and a stable economy that continues to grow after the town was downgraded in 2004.

Shangheta said he leaves behind a proud legacy since retiring from politics in 2010.

He now serves as the Otjozondjupa regional chairperson of the former Plan Combatant Association, an affiliate of the Swapo Party, that recognises the contributions of soldiers who served in exile.