Tributes for Namibia’s former president Sam Nujoma

Tributes continue to pour in after the death of the founding president of Namibia, Dr Sam Shafiishuna Nujoma, who died at the age of 95 in Windhoek after a short illness. 

Namibian President Dr Nangolo Mbumba announced on Sunday that the former president was hospitalised for medical treatment and observation. 

While he did not divulge what illness the former president had, Mbumba said the founding father of the Namibian nation could not recover from this illness. 

The former president died on Saturday, February 8 just before midnight. 

“Our Founding Father lived a long and consequential life during which he exceptionally served the people of his beloved country. Our Founding Father heroically marshalled the Namibian people during the darkest hours of our liberation struggle until the attainment of freedom and independence on March 21, 1990,” Mbumba said. 

He explained the founding father of the nation provided maximum leadership to the Namibian nation and spared no effort to motivate every citizen to build a country that would stand tall and proud among the nations of the world. 

“In that vein, our venerable leader, Dr. Nujoma not only blazed the trail to freedom – but he also inspired us to rise to our feet and to become masters of this vast land of our ancestors,” Mbumba said. 

President Mbumba has called on the nation to be comforted by the former president’s unmatched leadership and extraordinary contributions to the liberation struggle.

“I would like to thank the medical staff who cared diligently for our treasured leader. Also, I would like to thank Namibians and friends of Namibia who extended messages and prayers of recovery to our Founding Father and Founding President, His Excellency, Dr. Sam Shafiishuna Nujoma,” Mbumba said. 

Tributes across the continent streamed in as others sent their condolences to the Namibian people. 

Former Prime Minister of Chad, Moussa Faki Mahamat, who is the African Union Commission chairperson, took to X (formerly Twitter) to celebrate the life of Nujoma. 

“African Liberation icon and Namibia's Founding Father, the Continent, and indeed the world mourns the passing of one of its most illustrious revolutionary leaders,” Mahamat said. 

He described Nujoma as the epitome of courage, someone who never wavered from his vision for a free Namibia and a unified Africa. 

“We extend our most heartfelt condolences to Founding First Lady H.E. Kovambo Nujoma, his family and to the government & the people of the Republic of Namibia at this most difficult time,” Mahamat wrote. 

The Zimbabwe African National Union – Patriotic Front  (ZANU -PF) has also conveyed its condolences on X.

Kenyan President William Ruto also passed on his condolences to the Namibian people for their loss.

A period of national mourning will be announced. 

Funeral arrangements will also be made public soon. 

robin.francke@iol.co.za

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