“Cuba is the world’s brightest symbol of resilience and solidarity”, declared the Hon. Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhilla, Speaker of the Namibian National Assembly, during the launch of the “Namibians in Solidarity with the People of Cuba” campaign, which took place today at the Institute of Public Administration in Windhoek.
The venue served as the stage to publicize this act of solidarity and love for Cuba, which aims to raise funds for the purchase of solar panels and medical supplies to be sent to the island to alleviate the difficult situation it faces.
In a moving address, Kuugongelwa-Amadhilla highlighted the significant support shown to Cuba, not only by Namibian citizens, but also by the highest levels of the National Assembly, where Cuba is one of the few issues that enjoys unanimous support.
With vibrant cheers for Fidel Castro and Cuba, more than 200 people responded to the call from the Namibia-Cuba Friendship Association and the Sam Nujoma Foundation, the organizations leading the initiative and part of a broad platform that includes representatives from the government and civil society, such as the church, labor unions, youth, students, war veterans, the Association of Former Ambassadors, political parties, and the "Patria" Association of Cuban residents.
Dr. Nahas Angula, former Prime Minister and Chairperson of the Sam Nujoma Foundation, expressed his deep concern about the growing, silent, and genocidal sanctions imposed by the United States on Cuba. "These coercive measures undermine Cuban sovereignty and represent an existential threat to the nation's survival", he said.
In a speech brimming with compelling arguments about the energy crisis facing Cuba, the legendary politician pointed out that this act of aggression cannot be met with silence because inaction in the face of such aggression sets a dangerous precedent for the entire international community, and justice delayed is justice denied.
The blockade can no longer be described as ‘sovereign’ or ‘bilateral.’ Companies and nations that maintain legitimate trade with Cuba face punitive fines and exclusion from global financial systems due to US dominance and disregard for multilateral agreements endorsed by the UN Security Council”, he declared.
The ambassadors of Venezuela, Russia, and Iran attended the meeting where the Campaign's Organizing Committee was presented. The committee is chaired by Namibian politician and writer Helmut Angula, who served as the SWAPO Party's representative in Cuba between 1977 and 1986.
Angula recounted the actions leading up to the campaign's launch and stated that the relationship between Cuba and Namibia is not one of convenience, but rather one forged in struggle, sealed in sacrifice, and sustained by principles.
He recalled Cuba's role in the fight against colonialism and apartheid, and the decisive turning point of the Battle of Cuito Cuanavale, where Cuban forces, alongside the liberation movements of Angola and Namibia, confronted the military might of apartheid South Africa. “That moment not only changed the battlefield, but also the course of history in our region. It created the conditions for Namibia’s independence. It accelerated the dismantling of apartheid. It confirmed that solidarity, when put into practice, can change the destiny of nations”, he said.
The businessman and former minister of several portfolios also stated that Namibia cannot remain indifferent to the reality in Cuba because that would be to forget and deny the principles upon which freedom was built in the “land of the brave.”
“It is in this context that the Campaign has been created. It is not simply an initiative. It is a response based on memory, gratitude, and responsibility. It is a platform through which Namibians from all sectors can transform solidarity into action. We seek to mobilize resources, provide targeted support, and offer practical interventions. Solidarity is not passive. History demands reciprocity”, he commented.
In the voice of Ambassador Sergio Vigoa de la Uz, graduates of Cuban universities, veterans who fought alongside Cuban soldiers for Namibian independence, religious leaders, political figures, former ambassadors, businesspeople, collaborators, and Cuban residents received a detailed explanation of the consequences of six decades of blockade and the difficult situation the island faces today, caused by the energy blockade decreed by the President of the United States, with direct consequences on the daily lives of the population.
The Cuban diplomat expressed that this project comes to life in the centennial year of the birth of Commander-in-Chief Fidel Castro, who taught us to love Africa and especially Namibia. “The campaign is also a tribute to his legacy and to the eternal brotherhood we enjoy between our peoples and governments”, he commented.
Vigoa de la Uz expressed his gratitude for the overwhelming response to the call made by President Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez on April 16, 2026, in his speech commemorating the 65th anniversary of the Victory at Playa Girón, in which he called for a national and international movement of solidarity with Cuba.
“These realities are not numbers or headlines; they are human lives, children, the elderly, workers, students, and women who resist with dignity amidst great hardship. This is not a bombing; for now, we don't see planes attacking Cuba, we don't see U.S. soldiers parachuting in, although it's no secret that the current administration threatens to do so. The United States' policy toward Cuba constitutes a silent genocide that the international community cannot ignore”, he pointed out.
And he concluded: “We are deeply grateful to every organization, every volunteer, every donor who makes this initiative possible. Their generosity demonstrates that solidarity knows no borders. May this effort be yet another bridge between our peoples, a symbol of unity, and a reaffirmation that solidarity remains our greatest strength”.
The performance of “Guantanamera” and “Hasta Siempre Comandante” by Rovy Mingo, an Angolan artist based in Namibia, and the enthusiastic applause of the Cuban attendees in gratitude for such a generous initiative, were among the most moving moments of the gathering.