Windhoek – The outgoing namibian government on saturday paid tribute to the first angolan president, António Agostinho Neto, and to the former external relations minister, Office Minister Paulo Teixira Jorge, for their contribution to the independence of Namibia.

Also honoured were other african leaders who stood out in the struggle for the  For the same cause were also granted homage other Arican figures that struggled for the decolonization of the african continent as former zambian president Kenneth David Kaunda.

Attending the ceremony the angolan parliament speaker, António Paulo Kassoma, the widow of late president Neto, Maria Eugenia Neto, and his daughter, MP Irene Neto, amongst other guests.

Commenting the tribute, the former chief of staff of the angolan armed forces (FAA), António França "Ndalu", told the angolan media reporting the ceremony that Angola paid a valuable support to the struggle for Namibia's independence.

"During our liberation struggle against portuguese colonialism we had the support of neighbouring countries as Zambia, therefore we had the useful and prestigious task to help other countries to gain their independence" - retired general França Ndalu stressed.

He recalled the successive military victories of Angola against the apartheid regime in South Africa and the long road to the independence of Namibia on March 21, 1990, under the UN resolution 435. 

The retired angolan general who took an important role in several international meetings which ended up with the independence of the former german colony, and later a south african protectorate, told the press to be proud with the achievement of the Namibia's independence and the abolition of apartheid in South Africa. 

The angolan parliament speaker is attending today, on behalf of president José Eduardo dos Santos, the swearing in ceremony of the namibian elected president Hifikepunie Pohamba, and of the new government issued in the parliamentary elections of November 2009.