An investigation of the contributions made by civilians during Namibia’s liberation: A case study of selected war narratives from Oshitudha in Omusati region, Namibia
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Date
2025
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University of Namibia
Abstract
Civilians from the Oshitudha village, in Omusati region, made immense contributions
during the war for Namibia’s independence from apartheid South Africa’s rule of
Namibia. The objectives of this study were to examine the role played by selected
civilians in Oshitudha village by supporting members of the Peoples Liberation Army
of Namibia (PLAN), who fought against apartheid South African forces in Namibia.
A number of Oshitudha residents who witnessed the effect of war on Oshitudha
civilians were interviewed. Their collective testimonies disclosed an amicable social
and political interaction between the local population and PLAN combatants.
Interviewees’ accounts also collaborated the mainstream local narratives regarding
numerous atrocities that PLAN collaborators incurred in the hands of the South
African Security Forces (SASF) in Namibia. The findings of the study established that
many Oshitudha civilians supported PLAN combatants with food, water, civilian
clothes, transport, medicine, shelter, and intelligence information about the SASF. The
study also revealed that exile-bound civilians who, in most cases, came from western
Owamboland were regularly accommodated by residents of Oshitudha village for
weeks as they awaited the arrival of PLAN combatants to escort them to Angola. In
efforts to stop civilians support for PLAN, the SASF unleashed terror on Oshitudha
civilians, which resulted in loss of lives, disappearance, permanent injuries, and loss
of properties. Nevertheless, the presence of PLAN combatants who were from
Oshitudha solidified the support of Oshitudha civilians, who treated them as one would
treat his or her biological children. The study concludes that the assistance that
Oshitudha civilians gave PLAN combatants was vital for the continuation of the
Namibian armed liberation struggle. Lastly, it recommends further areas of research,
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such as the official recognition of civilians who contributed immensely to the
Namibian armed liberation struggle, as war veterans
Description
A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of Master of Arts in History
Keywords
Liberation struggle, Civilians and war, SWAPO, Apartheid, PLAN combatants, Oshitudha village, Namibia, University of Namibia