Namibian president confers hero status on teenager who rescued drowning twins
Cornelius Shimwaafeni, a 16-year-old from Omutundungu village in the Omusati region, was honored with hero status by President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah during the Heroes Day commemoration in Windhoek. Shimwaafeni was recognized for saving nine-month-old twins from drowning in a pond earlier this year. While herding goats, he witnessed the twins' mother throw both babies into the water. Despite not knowing how to swim, Shimwaafeni immediately rescued the infants. President Nandi-Ndaitwah commended his bravery, noting that he acted without expectation of reward, risking his own life to save others. For his heroic act, Shimwaafeni received a medal and N$5,000. The president also conferred national honors upon 1001 other Namibians for their contributions to the nation's liberation struggle, socio-economic development, and nation-building. Shimwaafeni had previously rescued two other boys, aged between eight and ten, from drowning last year.
