THITANGADIMBA – Hambukushu traditional leader Fumu Erwin Munika Mbambo (85) sang praises of late Founding Father Sam Nujoma, reminiscing on Nujoma’s days as his commander at the frontline.

Mbambo urged the youth to honour Nujoma for liberating Namibia and ensuring that there was peace after independence.

“Young people should follow the footsteps of Sam Nujoma to protect our country, our land and our people, as nobody will come and defend or protect us, only we as Namibians can do that. The youth, boys and girls, should be serious. If you don’t follow the footsteps of Sam Nujoma, you are going to blame yourselves in the future,” he said. 

Fumu Mbambo said Nujoma, whom he first met in exile, ensured that Namibians in exile received training and education with the purpose that when the country got its independence, they should know how to run the country, rather than depending on other people or foreigners.

He had education and skills’ training as a priority, he said.

“That was Sam Nujoma’s idea; to train his people, focusing on the future so that in case our country got independence, we are not going to run short of professionals, the police and the army. He is and was a commander, practical, not by words. Whatever idea he had, he put it into practice, and his commandership is God-given,” Fumu Mbambo said,

Mbambo said some commanders are just commanders by name, but Nujoma was on the frontline himself despite his position – making sure he leads from the front.

“Sometimes, we fighters would stop him because we didn’t want to lose him. One day in the area where I was with my soldiers, he came and overnight there. He came from Lusaka into the bush, and during the night, he wanted to sneak out with his gun. He wanted to kill the enemy himself, that’s who he was, fearless,” the Fumu said.

The traditional leader narrated that during the struggle, they were fighting in Zambia, sometimes the side of Angola and into Namibia.

“Sometimes, we would cross through the so-called Caprivi. We used to cross borders through these areas, via Angola through Kavango River; some would cross from Angola to Ovamboland, PLAN was everywhere,’’ he said.

The Hambukushu leader said Nujoma and former president Hifikepunye Pohamba are true freedom fighters and that their leadership is God-given.

“There are some politicians who are leaders but cannot handle some difficulties like how the two would. We need to respect them. The passing on of Nujoma should be respected countrywide,” he said

The Fumu noted that during the struggle for the country’s independence, Nujoma did not exclude any area in Namibia; he embraced the whole country to fight.

“When Nujoma left the country in 1960, somewhere around there, Pohamba was there with him. They were arrested in Zimbabwe and when they were released, they came via Botswana from there they then went to Zambia, if I’m not mistaken. These are the Swapo leaders who led the liberation struggle that led to our independence.