National Heroes Acre (Namibia)

The National Heroes Acre (Heroes Acre) is an official war memorial of the government of Namibia. Built less than 10 Km outside the capital of Windhoek, Heroes Acre opened on 26 August, 2002 and operates for the purpose of "foster(ing) a spirit of patriotism and nationalism, and to pass on the legacy to the future generations of Namibia". [ [http://www.windhoekcc.org.na/default.aspx?page=51 Windhoek City Council] ]

Construction

Mansudae Overseas Projects, a company from the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (North Korea), was given a N$60 million contract from Namibia to build the convert|732|acre|km2|sing=on monument. The contract was awarded to Mansudae Overseas Projects without any competitive tendering process. In May 2005, a report in the newspaper "The Namibian" noted that Heroes Acre was "already showing signs of decay". In particular, a bronze statue of a soldier had suffered damage, as had the plinth on which it stood. Some of the gold-coloured letters forming an inscription on the plinth were broken or missing, and the letters were "made of a cement-like substance, which had been painted gold and then glued to the plinth".cite news
last = Menges
first = Werner
title = Heroes' monument losing battle
publisher = "The Namibian"
date = 2005-05-06
url = http://www.namibian.com.na/2005/May/national/05AFAEC54B.html
accessdate = 2008-09-07 ]

Notable Heroes buried at Heroes Acre

* Dimo Hamaambo
* Richard Kapelwa Kabajani (former cabinet minister and ambassador to Cuba)
* John Pandeni
* Mose Penaani Tjitendero (first speaker of National Assembly

Honored Heroes

Many notable Namibians from the colonial era are also honored at Heroes Acre. Among these are Hosea Kutako, Jacob Marenga, and Samuel Maherero.

ee also

* National Heroes Acre (Zimbabwe)

Gallery

References