Self-sustainability, quality education and social safety of all Namibians were always at the centre of late Founding President Sam Nujoma’s leadership, Omaheke governor Pijoo Nganate has said. 

He said this while paying tribute to the country’s anti-apartheid stalwart. 

Nujoma died on Saturday at the age of 95 in Windhoek, and Nganate said the development and unity witnessed in the Omaheke region today is largely due to Nujoma’s early teachings of solidarity, progress of all members of society, and improving the state of schools. 

“Nujoma loved Namibia and its people so much. I’m sure you have seen iconic photos of him kissing the soil at an airport when he first returned home from exile; that shows how much he cherished and loved this country. He was a visionary and pragmatic leader who had Namibia’s best interest at heart. One other example was when he rallied the whole country to join in the construction of the railway to Ondangwa. He was a remarkable man,” said Nganate. 

The governor added that the iconic statesman was not only a beacon of hope for Namibians, but was also a towering figure who represented the interests and aspirations of many in the SADC region and Africa as a whole. 

“It was Nujoma and late president Robert Mugabe who led efforts to bring peace in the DRC those years, as he always wanted to see a stable and peaceful SADC region. He believed that development cannot take place if there is no peace. But unfortunately, the situation in the DRC today is not good, as the country is at war. We hope peace will be found in the names of those two great leaders [Nujoma and Mugabe].” 

The Omaheke Regional Council held a dedicated memorable service in honour of Nujoma, where councillors and the region’s leadership expressed gratitude for the role the late president played during the early days of nation-building. 

-ohembapu@nepc.com.na