… Ex-general Martin Shalli berates “N$700k” paltry Cuban donation
By Stefanus Nashama
Namibia has been accused of giving Cuba a “shameful” and insignificant contribution despite the Caribbean nation’s decisive role in Namibia’s liberation struggle.
Retired lieutenant general Martin Shalli says the more than N$700,000 raised for Cuba is “peanuts” and falls far short of what Namibia should be giving a country that sacrificed lives and resources to help secure Namibia’s independence.
Shalli, speaking exclusively to Confidente, said Namibia should have contributed at least N$20 million to the humanitarian campaign.
“The number is shameful to mention. As good as we are, we have not done anything. We could have contributed more,” Shalli
said.
“What we contributed is peanuts… peanuts… peanuts. We are supposed to contribute more, even a minimum of N$20 million.”
Cuba is facing severe economic difficulties, including shortages of fuel, medicine and electricity. The Namibia National Solidarity Campaign in Support of Cuba has been mobilising assistance, particularly for medical supplies.
But Shalli says Namibia’s response should not be viewed simply as humanitarian aid. He argues that the country has a historical obligation to Cuba because of its role in the liberation struggle.
“The role that Cuba played in Angola paved the way for our country’s independence so that we have freedom of speech and the right to be talking as we are talking now,” he said.
Shalli pointed to the 1978 Cassinga massacre and the Battle of Cuito Cuanavale as defining moments in which Cuban involvement helped change the course of the liberation struggle.
“When the Cassinga attack happened that day, 4 May 1978, Cuban military soldiers came to intervene timely. If it wasn’t for their intervention, the situation could have been much worse,” he said.
He also highlighted Cuba’s contribution to Namibia’s education and human-resource development, saying the country helped train generations of Namibians without demanding repayment.
“Cuba, a small country, had done all that in return for nothing. They did not demand anything from us. They really made a big impact on us,” Shalli said.
Meanwhile, the chairperson of the Namibia National Solidarity Campaign in Support of Cuba, Helmut Angula, said the campaign has now raised more than N$1 million, although this remains below its N$3 million target.
The funds are intended to procure solar kits for hospitals and clinics in Cuba.
Angula criticised the limited response from Namibian institutions, particularly faith-based organisations and professional bodie “I am disappointed by the faith organisations and professional bodies of our country.
They remain unimpressed by our call, yet Cuban medical teams, educationists and engineers are serving our communities in remote areas of Namibia without exception,” he said.
Angula said hundreds of Namibian students had studied in Cuba, while Cuban-trained Namibians and former liberation fighters had gone on to play key roles in the country.
He also recalled that Cuban forces fought alongside PLAN combatants in Angola against South African forces.
“All that’s possible and within our means, politically, diplomatically and economically, must be done to alleviate the plight of the Cuban nation,” Angula said.
He argued that solidarity should not only be expected when Namibia is the beneficiary “Those who supported our economic development agenda today do have social challenges at home. Human solidarity is the most essential part of our existence,” he said.
Angula also applauded President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah for maintaining Namibia’s position on international solidarity.
‘Namibia has forgotten’ Political analyst Sakaria Johannes said Namibia’s long-standing relationship with Cuba appears increasingly disconnected from the level of support Cuba once provided to Namibia.
“When we were in the dark days of apartheid, Cuba sent us doctors, gave us food and medicine, educated us and offered us much more assistance. But looking at what Namibia has done in support of Cuba, it is less compared to what Cuba had done for us,” Johannes said.
He said young Namibians needed to understand the historical ties between the two countries and the sacrifices made during the liberation struggle.
According to sources, the criticism now puts Namibia’s solidarity credentials under scrutiny.
“Can a country that benefited from Cuba’s sacrifices afford to offer only N$700,000 when its former ally is in crisis?” one source questioned.
