Uakutura Kambaekua

Politicians, executives and community members gathered at Heroes’ Acre outside Windhoek on Saturday to honour Founding President Sam Nujoma and former president Hage Geingob.

They did so by laying wreaths and reflecting on their legacies.
February has become a month etched in Namibia’s collective memory, as it was during this month in two consecutive years that the country lost its first and third presidents – Nujoma, who passed away on 8 February 2025, and Geingob, who passed away on 4 February 2024.

The former liberation icons were honoured for their bravery and fight against oppression for the total independence of Namibia.

Speakers who shared their thoughts on how they remember the two liberation icons described their legacies as emerging from bloodshed during anti-colonial struggles, resulting in a renewed call for national and continental unity.

Nujoma led the country for three terms from 1990 to 2005, with Geingob serving as his prime minister until 2002.

Geingob then became prime minister under former president Hifikepunye Pohamba from 2012 to 2015 before being sworn in as Namibia’s third president in 2015, a position he held until his passing two years ago. His leadership after independence was no less transformative. He guided the nation toward unity through the Policy of National Reconciliation and championed development in housing, education, water supply and rural electrification, also laying the foundation for Vision 2030, a blueprint which still guides national planning, she added. 

Nandi-Ndaitwah’s reflection on Geingob was equally vibrant, describing him as the Father of Namibia’s Constitution, a man who chaired the Constituent Assembly and later became the country’s first prime minister. She added that Geingob’s leadership fortified governance structures and fostered inclusivity, peace, and social stability, pillars he continued to strengthen during his presidency from 2015.

“Today, we can see farther as a nation because we stand on the shoulders of these two giants,” said Nandi-Ndaitwah.
On behalf of the Nujoma family, Nujoma’s eldest son, Utoni, expressed gratitude to the nation for the love demonstrated during their challenging year of mourning.

“Let us cherish the good memories we hold, and let his vision, courage and compassion continue to guide us,” he said.

Nujoma added that his father’s unconquerable spirit and sacrifices, a shining star and now an eternal beacon of light, should continue inspiring future generations.

He extended the tribute to include Geingob, honouring both leaders as fearless freedom fighters and unmatched patriots whose foundations ensured that Namibia now stands tall among nations. He urged Namibians to recommit to their ideals so their sacrifices were not in vain.

Among the dignitaries, former Speaker of the National Assembly Peter Katjavivi offered a perspective formed over decades of shared struggle, having worked with both men in exile and later in government.

Katjavivi described them as architects of reconciliation and inclusivity, instrumental in stabilising the nation during its earliest years. He introduced the Hage G. Geingob Presidential Centre, a new institution that will preserve Geingob’s legacy, coordinate commemorations and serve as a resource for understanding his contributions to Namibia and the world, which will stand at Casa Rosalia in Windhoek, offering public access to archival materials and historical records.

Pendukeni Iivula-Ithana, vice chairperson of the Sam Nujoma Foundation, spoke with conviction about Nujoma’s enduring influence, describing his name as a beacon of hope and a guiding light carved into Namibia’s mountains, hills and hearts.

She recalled his legacy as a guiding light and a source of unwavering encouragement that continues to inspire unity and courage. Iivula-Ithana reminded the nation that Nujoma’s leadership was anchored in justice and unity and that the struggle for economic emancipation remains unfinished.

Her message was clear: legacy is not memory alone; it is responsibility.

Nandi-Ndaitwah further urged the public to uphold the values of unity, dignity and equality principles that both Nujoma and Geingob advanced throughout their lives. – Nampa