Foreign dignitaries who graced the burial of late founding president Sam Nujoma at the Heroes Acre in Windhoek on Saturday hailed his unwavering dedication to the cause for the independence of his motherland.
Angola’s President João Lourenço, who was among those in attendance, said Nujoma will be remembered for his tenacity and drive to not only have Namibia liberated, but also for the wave of oppression to subside on the African continent.
Lourenço who also serves as the chairperson of the African Union, added that the late Nujoma has left a void and an indelible mark in African politics and expressed hope the remaining leaders on the continent will emulate.
“A courageous man has left for eternity, a Namibian patriot, a genuine son of Africa who had become an icon of plight for the dignity and sovereignty of his people. He gigantically challenged any system of apartheid, which dominated for various decades, in an exemplary manner,” said Lourenço during Nujoma’s memorial service held at Independence Stadium.
He indicated that it was up to the next crop of African leaders to emulate the spirit of devotion and realise their dreams and goals by building an Africa that is beautiful for all.
“We need to build on the legacies of our founding leaders. This is the befitting moment for the young Namibians and Angolans and from all generations to be united and share the blood in fierce battles to write pages of the history of our liberation as a region,” he stated.
He said it is a difficult duty for him to pay the last homage on behalf of Africa to President Nujoma, an outstanding figure in African contemporary history and a hero of the Namibian people.
“He is a symbol of the unbreakable fight for the liberation of Southern Africa and against the rule of the brutal apartheid regime,” he stated.
Zimbabwean president Emmerson Mnangagwa said the passing of Nujoma is a huge loss to Namibia, the entire SADC region, Africa and beyond.
“His selfless efforts and unwavering commitment to justice equality and freedom for his people and all of mankind will remain etched in our collective memory and posterity. In the late Nujoma, we had more than just a political figure; he was a larger-than-life revolutionary icon and shining beacon of hope for the people of Africa,” said Mnangagwa, who is the SADC chairman.
The Zimbabwe head of state said Nujoma’s astute exemplary and consistent leadership during the struggle for independence laid critical building blocks for democratic culture not only Namibia but also the whole of SADC.
He stated: “We honour him as one of the Founding Fathers and a true pan-African statesman. As the leader of Swapo, he inspired countless individuals to rise against colonial oppression and to fight for their birthright, freedom, independence, and dignity. His vision for a truly independent and liberated Africa transcended borders, uniting people from across southern Africa.”
Mnangagwa said Nujoma championed policies that promoted social justice, economic development, and regional cooperation.
Nigeria’s president Bola Tinubu, who was represented by vice president Shahim Shettima said Nujoma’s passing was not a departure from the realms of space and time, but rather the echo of his ‘immortality’ resounding in the hearts and minds of Africans.
Tinubu indicated that the Founding President was a warrior not only on the battlefield but in the arena of ideas calling him a visionary who galvanized Nigeria and other African nations to unite in the fight for Namibia’s freedom.
He added that Nujoma’s unwavering commitment to justice and independence ignited consciousness across the continent which inspired solidarity and determination to tackle colonial oppression.
“Nigeria was not a bystander in the Namibian struggle. When the world turned its back, we stood firm. When your voice was drowned by the guns of apartheid, we spoke,” Tinubu recalled.
He added: “We have not come to this sacred ground to bury a man. We have come to enshrine a legacy. We have come to salute a life that was lived not for itself, but for the people, for the land, for the ideals of freedom. For him, Africa stands still today.
The politician added that Nujoma was not just the founding father of a nation that needed a hero; he was a warrior in the age of chains.
“He looked into the face of oppression in the most dangerous time to do so and declared that no African shall ever be a second-class citizen on his soil,” said Tinubu.
-psiririka@nepc.com.na