Kavambo Nujoma
Allow me on the onset, as we gather here on this solemn occasion, on behalf of the Nujoma, Kondombolo, and Mushimba families, and indeed on my own behalf, to express our profound gratitude to the Government of the Republic of Namibia for conferring the highest honour of a State Funeral of a National Hero to our family’s pillar of strength and protector, my beloved husband, His Excellency Dr Sam Nujoma.
Your messages, presence, visitations at home, gave me as well as the children and the extended family, the assurance that we are not alone during this difficult time.
Indeed, the entire Namibian nation and the international community is standing with us just as you stood with us and carried us during the struggle for the liberation of our country.
In the same vein, the entire Namibian nation and the international community upheld the values of my beloved husband, His Excellency Dr Sam Nujoma and stood by him when on 09 February 1990 we adopted our Constitution and he was unanimously elected by the National Assembly as the First President of the Republic of Namibia, on 16 February 1990 and was sworn in as the Founding President of the Republic of Namibia on 21 March 1990.
Thank you for sharing in our grief.
Allow me to share some thoughts about my husband – the love of my life, my protector, a visionary leader, a father, a grandfather and truly an African icon. He would call me Meekulu and I would call him Presidente.
It was during the apartheid era, in the early 1950s, when racial segregation was at its fiercest, that I met the young Sam Nujoma.
I was visiting Walvis Bay, and there he was – a young, vibrant, dynamic, and wise man whose presence commanded attention. Despite the divisive atmosphere of those times, we found love.
Ours was a love that rose above the barriers of tribal segregation, a love that stood the test of time against colonial subjugation and the laws of divide and rule.
We married on 6 May 1956, united not only by our love, but also by a shared vision for a free and independent Namibia.
In our marriage, we were blessed with many children, namely: Utoni Daniel Nujoma, John Ndeshipanda Nujoma, Nefungo Nujoma, Nelago Nujoma and Usuta Nujoma as well as 23 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren.
I must say though, through all the tensions and political trials and intimidation by the brutal apartheid regime, my husband remained steadfast, resolute, focused, disciplined, persevering and unwavering in his belief that Namibia would one day be free.
When my husband left for exile, my family and I were not spared from the hardships.
Our home was raided continuously, and we were under constant surveillance and harassment by the South African security forces. Yet, even in his absence, my husband’s love and strength enveloped us.
When the harassment became unbearable, I made the difficult decision to join him in exile, in Zambia in 1978, accompanied by our youngest daughter, Usuta and several nieces and nephews. It was a perilous journey, but love and hope propelled me forward.
Despite being geographically separated, we remained closely in touch as a family.
We held onto our love through letters, phone calls, telegrams, and, whenever possible, brief but cherished visits.
My reunion with my husband in Zambia was a moment of profound joy — a realisation that love endured, in the face of war and hardship.
Finally, we returned home in 1989, and on 21 March 1990, I experienced the joy of standing by his side to witness Namibia’s independence.
It was the realisation of my husband’s dream — a vision he had held onto through years of sacrifice and suffering. Even after independence, his work did not cease.
He continued to labour tirelessly, laying a firm foundation for the Government of the Republic of Namibia with the ultimate aim to secure prosperity for all Namibians.
At home, despite his demanding schedule, my husband remained a devoted husband, a loving father, and a fierce protector of his family. We were always a priority to him.
He made time to share light moments, to celebrate our birthdays as well as those of the children and grandchildren. It was a joy to open our home to many people – including our adopted children, PLAN combatants, friends from Namibia, Africa and the world over.
When I became the First Lady of Namibia, I enjoyed his unwavering support. He believed in me, instilling in me the confidence and encouraged me to undertake any project during my tenure.
His presence was a constant source of strength, whether through his wise counsel or simply by his reassuring smile. With his encouragement, I established the Child Survival Protection and Development Foundation to support and nurture the development of our nation’s children.
My husband was a humble man. His simplicity was evident in how he administered government affairs from a small study room in our residence. He was content with whatever was available, always focused on the greater good of Namibia.
He respected everyone he encountered and expressed deep gratitude to those around him, particularly to the loyal staff who served him with dedication.
My husband led a disciplined and structured life, yet he was always gentle, generous and thoughtful.
He would come home, greet me first, and hold my hand, his voice full of affection as he would ask, “Meekulu ouli nawa?”and I would respond with “Iii Presidente, turi nawa. Ove ua kotoka nawa?”
Those simple gestures, filled with love, are treasures I will hold close to my heart forever.
Director of ceremonies;
Your Excellency
Fellow Mourners;
Permit me, at this juncture, to thank all Namibians for walking this journey with us, for lifting him high as they sang “Sema ouli peni yelula epandela”.
The epandela remained lifted high because you the Namibian people and our friends and supporters across Africa and the world reinforced the arm that lifted the epandela and you provided the shoulders that carried him to navigate through the rough waters.
I wish to express my sincere gratefulness to the mothers and fathers who sacrificed their sons and daughters for the dream he held so dear, the security personnel who safeguarded him and the household staff who kept our family safe. I am deeply grateful to the medical team and to everyone whose prayers carried us through.
Director of Ceremonies;
I will fail in my duty if I do not recognise the African brothers and sisters on the continent and those in the diaspora who shared his dream, hosted my husband and provided the necessary political, material, morale and logistical support to realise his vision.
These gestures cannot go unrecognized, as they contributed to the successful completion of the vision and mission of my husband.
The last six months were difficult for my family and I, but even then, my husband remained a source of encouragement. His spirit was indomitable. Despite his poor health, he would always return home after every medical procedure, filling our home with hope and anticipation. Sadly, on 8 February 2025, he took his final journey – not to our home, but to his eternal home. We thank God for his life.
My dear husband, you will forever remain in our hearts. Your legacy will remain a shining light that I commit to pass down through generations to come.
As written in Daniel 12:3: “Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever.”
Suva mohange musuverua uandje.
Kaende naua, neraka roje katuna okuri zemba ko.
Okuhepa.
*Founding First Lady Kovambo Nujoma’s speech delivered during her husband’s burial on Saturday.