Exactly 370 days since Namibia was plunged into mourning following the death of President Hage Geingob, another dark cloud hovered over the country. Just like Geingob, Founding President Sam Nujoma died on a Saturday.
He was 95.
A towering figure in Namibian history, Nujoma’s name is synonymous with Namibia’s liberation, independence and nation-building.
His death marks the end of an era, one defined by resilience, sacrifice and unwavering dedication to the people of this country.
Mourning
President Nangolo Mbumba confirmed the news in a solemn address to the nation early on Sunday morning.
“It is with utmost sorrow and sadness that I announce this morning, 9 February 2025, to the Namibian people, our African brothers and sisters, and the world at large the passing of our revered freedom fighter and revolutionary leader, H.E. Dr. Sam Shafiishuna Nujoma. President Nujoma passed on at the age of 95 on the 8th of February at 23h45 in Windhoek, Namibia,” he announced on national television.
Mbumba remembers Nujoma as someone who provided maximum leadership to the nation, and spared no effort to motivate every Namibian to build a country that would stand tall and proud among the nations of the world.
“In that vein, our venerable leader, Dr. Nujoma, did not only blaze the trail to freedom, but he also inspired us to rise to our provided maximum leadership to our nation. In that vein, our venerable leader, Dr. Nujoma, did not only blaze 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,” he stated.
Nujoma lost his battle to illness in a Windhoek hospital.
Across Namibia, flags have been lowered to half-mast as the country prepares to bid farewell to the man who led it to independence.
Condolences have poured in from leaders across Africa and the world, honouring Nujoma’s contribution to Pan-Africanism, anti-colonial struggle and post-independence development.
Sombre
At his residence outside Windhoek, a sombre and heavy silence hangs in the air.
Mourners, including family members, close friends and political figures, thronged the house to pay their respects, their faces etched with grief and reflection.
Some stand quietly; others wipe away tears, as they come to terms with the loss.
The atmosphere is one of deep sorrow, with hushed conversations and the occasional sound of mourning songs breaking the stillness.
“To him, everything was all about Namibians, and he wanted all Namibians to reach a high level of welfare and well-being. He spoke with passion against gender-based violence, and was fond of those who are less privileged,” Nujoma’s nephew David Nuyoma remembered.
Prominent figures from across Namibia were also among many who had arrived at the Nujoma residence to pay their respects.
Government officials, liberation struggle veterans and opposition leaders were seen embracing grieving family members, offering words of comfort and signing the book of condolences.
“I met Nujoma in 1966 in Zambia, and he is the one who encouraged me to go and further my studies. I went to study at the University of Zambia, and after finishing my studies, he gave me my first assignment to start a school for Namibians,” narrated Nahas Angula, who served as minister of education and also minister of higher education under Nujoma’s administration.
Genesis
Born Daniel Shafiishuna Sam Nujoma on 12 May 1929 in Etunda, Omusati region, history records Nujoma as a man who came from modest, humble beginnings.
A son of peasants, he grew up tending cattle in the dusty plains of northern Namibia, where colonial rule severely restricted educational and economic opportunities for Black Namibians, according to his biography.
Despite these limitations, he pursued education. He received his primary education from the Okahao Finnish Mission School from 1937 to 1945. In 1946, he moved to the coastal town of Walvis Bay to live with his aunt Gebhart Nandjule.
It was here that he became politically conscious, witnessing firsthand the injustices of South African apartheid rule.
Determined to fight for change, Nujoma became a founding member of the Ovamboland People’s Organisation (OPO) in 1958, which later evolved into the South West Africa People’s Organisation (Swapo).
In 1960, he went into exile, spending nearly 30 years mobilising international support, and leading the armed liberation struggle from countries such as Tanzania, Zambia and Angola.
The architect
After years of armed resistance, diplomatic negotiations and international pressure, Namibia finally gained independence on 21 March 1990.
Nujoma was sworn in as the country’s first president, and for 15 years, he led the nation.
Although he stepped down in 2005, making way for Hifikepunye Pohamba, Nujoma remained a respected elder statesman, offering counsel on national and continental affairs.
Tributes have poured in from leaders, political parties and citizens who see Nujoma as more than just a politician, but as a father and a freedom fighter.
The Swapo Party described him as a military strategist of note.
“Under his leadership, Plan became a formidable army that the then-fascist and apartheid regime of South Africa feared most,” said the party’s secretary general Sophia Shaningwa in a statement.
Indefatigable
Leader of the opposition McHenry Venaani also paid his respects, calling Nujoma “an indefatigable leader of our people.”.
“His departure marks a significant moment in our country’s history, as we reflect on his role in the struggle for Namibia’s independence and his contributions to the nation’s development,” he said.
The government is expected to declare a period of national mourning and announce funeral arrangements in the coming days, in consultation with the family.
-ashikololo@nepc.com.na