ETUNDA  – Swapo secretary general (SG) Sophia Shaningwa said late Founding President Sam Nujoma always urged the party’s supporters to protect the party.

Shaningwa said this during Nujoma’s first regional memorial service held at his residence in Etunda village in the Omusati region’s Okahao constituency on Thursday.

She said during a visit with Nujoma on 11 October 2024, he implored her to protect the party, and be united and vigilant as the former colonisers want the party out of power.

“We vow to honour his words, to protect the party, unify the Namibian people and remain vigilant,” she stated.

Shaningwa said Swapo supporters and Namibians at large are mourning and celebrating the life of an icon of the liberation struggle, who lived a life with multiple purposes.

She added that the Swapo-led government, under Nujoma’s leadership, rolled out many developmental projects designed to bring services closer to the people in sectors such as education, healthcare, water, electricity and housing.

“Road infrastructure mushroomed all over the country, and poverty alleviation programmes were put in full swing,” she said.

The Swapo SG noted that when Nujoma was elected as the first president of Namibia at independence, he pushed through policies and a comprehensive legislative agenda designed to heal the wounds of apartheid injustice.

“Nujoma was sworn in as the first president of Namibia at independence on 21 March 1990, and led the country for 15 years and the Swapo Party for 17 years in an independent Namibia,” she added.

The SG said as they come to terms with Nujoma’s passing, she, on behalf of the party, expressed special consolation to ex-People’s Liberation Army of Namibia (Plan) commanders, former combatants, the veterans of the liberation struggle, and the special unit that protected the founding president.

“Swapo extends its heartfelt condolences to his beloved wife, Meekulu Kovambo Nujoma, the entire Nujoma family, and the Namibian nation at large,” said Shaningwa. -Nampa