Sawi Hausiku 

RUNDU—Veteran politician and ex-cabinet minister Pendukeni Iivula-Ithana said their time in exile was bearable because Founding President Sam Nujoma was like a father to them.

She spoke to Nampa in an interview on Sunday after visiting Nujoma’s residence, following the announcement of his passing in Windhoek on Saturday.

“When some of us left this country in 1974, we were young and still under the tutelage of our parents. We left the country to go into an unknown world – but lucky enough, we fell into the hands of Swapo, led by Nujoma,” she said.

Iivula-Ithana, who served as Attorney General under the administration of Nujoma from 2001 to 2008, said Nujoma instilled in them a spirit of comradeship, courage and deep patriotism.

“Our stay in exile all those years was bearable because we knew we had a father figure in Nujoma. Everything we learned was in pursuit of the principles he instilled in us,” she said.

She remembered not going for further studies, and instead opting to go for military training because Nujoma made her understand the importance of contributing to the liberation struggle.

“All of us, in a way, took the liberation struggle as a priority. We believed in doing everything for the struggle and all for victory,” she stated.

The veteran Namibian politician said in Nujoma, they had a leader with stamina, and a visionary with foresight.

“Nujoma’s promises always came true. The first central committee of Swapo met on the outskirts of Windhoek just like he pre-empted. He established Namibia’s government from nothing. I remember how the old State House, where he used to operate from, was left with nothing in it but a telephone receiver on the floor,” Iivula-Ithana narrated.

She said the South African administration left Namibia without financial resources – only debt allegedly owed to South Africa.

She said Nujoma secured support from friendly countries to such an extent that Namibia’s first governor for the Bank of Namibia was from Sweden.

“Sweden was one of the few countries that supported Swapo a lot. This country gave us their most qualified person at the time to set up the Bank of Namibia,” she said.

Namibia started from humble beginnings with Nujoma, who had a vision for the country, she concluded. -Nampa