In the heart of Namibia’s post-independence era, some of the most iconic images of the nation’s first president – the late Founding President Sam Nujoma – were captured through the lens of a man who admired not just his leadership, but also his unique aura in front of the camera. 

Gerson Nghituwamata, a photographer with a front-row seat to history, recalls his time photographing Nujoma from 1995 to 2002, a period marked by political milestones and personal memories. 

He shares intimate insights into the man who once led a nation through the hardships of liberation, and his deep admiration for a leader who was also a friend. 

“Nujoma was a very photogenic person,” says Nghituwamata. It is a sentiment he expresses with a sense of nostalgia. 

“He was always conscious of how moments were captured. There were times when he would call me, asking whether I had captured specific moments, or whether I had taken the right angle. He would often request that I retake photos, not out of vanity, but because he understood the importance of preserving history. 

It wasn’t just about images for the sake of fame or self-image. For Nujoma, it was about ensuring that every significant moment was preserved for the future. He felt it was his responsibility to capture these moments for future generations to see, and he trusted me with that mission,” Nghituwamata beams. 

In fact, it was Nujoma who made sure that the country had the means to preserve its own history. 

“When I joined State House, there was no archive or library system in place. Nujoma was the one who made sure that the necessary funding was provided to establish these essential institutions,” he narrates. 

Nghituwamata’s journey as a photographer began long before his time at State House. His story is rooted in the experience of exile, a common thread for many Namibians during the liberation struggle. 

He was in Zambia, where he trained to become a journalist. 

Nujoma and erstwhile Swapo leader Hidipo Hamutenya attended his graduation ceremony, a moment which would forever link Nghituwamata to the liberation icon he had long admired. 

After his graduation, he received a request from Nujoma to undergo military training in Lubango, Angola, which he did for three months. This was just one chapter of the journey that would eventually lead him back to Namibia, where in 1992 he worked for Namibia Today, a publication which had just been established. 

“I didn’t stay long, and left to work at State House as the Chief Media Liaison Officer”. Nghituwamata’s role soon expanded to become Nujoma’s assistant. He would help Nujoma with everyday tasks – cleaning his office, and reading the daily papers. During this time, a deep bond formed between the two men. 

“We developed a friendship,” he says, reflecting on the many personal moments they shared during this period. 

Some of the most memorable moments in his life as Nujoma’s photographer involved not just the grand political events, but the small, intimate experiences which showed a more human side of the liberation hero. One such memory took place in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, during the Commonwealth Summit. 

“After the event, former Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad, who was a friend of Nujoma, took him on a tour of a local zoo. There was this beautiful, brightly-coloured parrot that flew and landed on Nujoma’s shoulder. I managed to take a picture of it. It was a moment of pure beauty, “Nghituwamata remembers. 

When they returned to Namibia, he framed the photo and gifted it to Nujoma, who was overjoyed. 

“He hung that photo in his office, right behind his chair. If you visited his office, you would have seen it,” he recalls. 

Another significant memory took place around December 1989, when late Archbishop Desmond Tutu visited Namibia. 

Nghituwamata captured a quiet, intimate moment between the two men in the narrow corridor of Nujoma’s Wanaheda home. 

“Nujoma was whispering something into Tutu’s ear. I was able to take that picture, and once again, I framed it and gave it to him. He later told me that he was telling Tutu that South Africa would soon gain independence too”, he shares joyfully. 

This image, like the parrot photo, found its place on Nujoma’s office wall.

Nghituwamata also remembers moments of vulnerability, when Nujoma would open up about the sacrifices he made in his quest for liberation. 

“I remember one time after cleaning his office – something we often did together – he told me that life was very complicated. He said people didn’t appreciate what he had done for them. He had given up his youth, his personal life, to fight for Namibia’s freedom, and yet people still complained about what he hadn’t done for them.” 

In that moment, Nghituwamata responded with words that would comfort Nujoma. 

“I told him that he had achieved so much as a liberation hero. He fought for this country, and now he was able to see the fruits of that struggle. Many liberation heroes didn’t live to witness the fruits of their labour.” 

Nujoma nodded in agreement, and the two sat together in the garden, feeding guinea fowls in quiet reflection. 

In 2005, after three terms in office, Nujoma announced that he would not run for a fourth term. That year, he stepped down, and so did Nghituwamata, who retired soon after. “It was the end of an era for both of us. But the memories, the conversations and the photos I took will remain with me forever”, he reflects. 

Today, Nghituwamata has turned his focus to farming, but is also working on a book about his personal encounters with Nujoma. “He was a good man. A great man, and I am proud to have been a part of his journey, capturing moments that will live on in the hearts of Namibians,” he says, his voice filled with respect and admiration. “