By Kuvee Kangueehi
Ongwediva
Hundreds of Namibians on Saturday flocked to the Ongwediva Entertainment Centre to join the Swapo Party Founding President Sam Nujoma and his wife, Kovambo, mark her 74th birthday. Cabinet ministers, deputy ministers, regional governors, Swapo Party leaders and traditional leaders were among the guests that attended the joyful and colourful event.
Various guests paid tribute to the former first lady and delivered congratulatory messages on behalf of the regions they represented.
Among the speakers was Swapo Party Women Council Secretary, Petrina Haingura, who described the former first lady as a Pan-Africanist and patriotic daughter of the Namibian soil. Haingura said Lady Kovambo was a heroine who with dedication, loyalty and patriotism, has steadfastly remained on the side of one of Africa’s greatest statesmen and freedom fighters, Sam Nujoma.
The deputy minister added that as a young girl Kovambo grew up as an ordinary African girl who helped her parents and obediently carried out her duties and responsibilities. She added that the marriage of the Nujomas was no ordinary one, as it became the bond of the entire struggling masses of Namibia against apartheid tyranny.
“The Nujoma family has undoubtedly suffered not because of themselves but on account of the total liberation and independence of Namibia.” She added that they stood firm and never wavered until the flag of freedom was hoisted on 21 March, 1990.
Kovambo got married to Nujoma in 1956 and the couple was blessed with three sons and a daughter, all born before Nujoma went into exile in the early 60s. Kovambo only joined Nujoma in exile after a decade.
Various traditional groups also performed at the party.