Indeed, when the history of Namibia has been written, Swapo will go down as having stood firm where others wavered with Shafiishuna Sam Nujoma, at its helm. 

Shafiishuna, as his name resonates with his trademark Colgate smile, will welcome you ascending to occasions when it is of lighter, jovial moments and calm and relaxed environment, yet his face and actions will give you a single posture of closed lips signals when the situation does not amuse him. Tatekulu, as we affectionately referred to you, there was only one astute man in the country Namibia and on the continent of Africa. A rare and precious gem indeed. 

If you were not mortal, we would say you were made out of steel, but knowing that you are only human of flesh and blood, you were a rare breed. Tatekulu, no amount of words can explain and express the gratitude we feel, or how lucky we have been, we were truly blessed as a nation of Namibia to have had you as its founding president. 

Tatekulu, we will always hold you in the inner folds of our hearts because of your good deeds and your care for every single Namibian. Your footprints across the borders of this country and the many rivers of tears, blood and sweat that you have crossed to make sure that all of us, young and old, live comfortably and have the best of public services that Mother Namibia can offer. 

Tatekulu, any Namibian who will never acknowledge what you did for this country, we can only say may God open their eyes and clean their consciousness for them to come back to reality. Sam Nujoma, there could have never been a man who rises to an occasion like you did in the moment when the going was getting tough, bravely. As a son of Daniel Utoni Nujoma and Helvi Mpingana Kondombolo and of course, born out of the clan kingship of the Uukwambi royalty, that bravely took you out of the comfort zone of the Land of the Brave to seek freedom for your people. Today, we say, a mission accomplished fully! As if that was not enough, you came back and made sure we built a peaceful nation where everybody lived in peace and harmony. When it was time for you to move on, you paved the way for other leaders to take over the reins of our Republic, of course Namibia and Swapo have never made a mistake by making H.E. Hifikepunye Pohamba your successor and also to ensure the late H.E. Hage Geingob took us further and now H.E Nangolo Mbumba, who had the shortest time reign but the toughest of all where we lost both of our two great leaders. 

H.E. Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, we have hope in you that Tatekulu’s dreams, visions and good intentions he had for this country will be taken up further, as he demonstrated his faith in women’s leadership by being the champion of the 50/50 gender parity which is currently a landmark and a hallmark for emulation by other countries. 

Tatekulu, if I go down at a personal level, I have met you as a young girl. I had the privilege to receive you at Ondangwa Airport now the Andimba Toivo ya Toivo Airport, when you first stepped your foot in the northern part of Namibia. I presented you with a bouquet of flowers. I said a short poem to welcome you as you were going to address the first ever Swapo star rally in Okatana when we were preparing for elections in 1989. Your statements at that rally and on that occasion were internalised fully and I can testify to the fact that today, I stand proud and tall as a leader in our movement and in our beautiful country because of so many lessons and inspiration that I have drawn from you. 

There were both dark and lighter moments we shared with you in our family when we had you as a frequent visitor. Tatekulu, you did not only come as a visitor, but you came to teach us so many lessons. Lessons of hard work, lessons of discipline, lessons of commitment and lessons of patriotism, as well as for the love of our fellow countrymen and women. 

Today, I stand tall and proud as a Namibian who has an interest in the wellbeing of the rest of the Namibians, a lesson you have instilled in the Namibian youth, especially during our tenure in an office of the Swapo Party Youth League (SPYL), where we had frequent meetings with you that were modelled on the inclusivity and demographic balance as a fabric of our nation. We tapped into your wisdom and many of us today can claim that we are better leaders because we went through your hand. 

Yes, it’s fair for many to say that you have accomplished your mission. You have done your part, and they are celebrating your life. Tatekulu, at a personal level, I am saddened and mourning your loss and I am hurt by your departure. It is never easy for a human heart to let go of those that we hold dear and close to our hearts. 

Tatekulu, if you were not mortal, I would have asked our Lord to grant you five or 10 years more for us to get an opportunity to keep learning and tapping from your fountain of wisdom, but we are only human and the Almighty has a calendar for all of us, our days are numbered, so 8 February 2025 was your day. 

This day will go down in the history of Namibia as one of the darkest days, when we lost a brave soldier, when we lost a compatriot warrior, when we lost a visionary leader when we lost one of us. 

A sombre day indeed when we lost a Namibian who cared about every other Namibian, when we lost a Namibian who knew what it takes to lead a country from the yoke of colonialism to freedom and to become a flourished nation. 

Everything you have started, the plans you have put in place and all your accomplishments are written all over this country. We want to make a commitment that, Tatekulu, we will never let your legacy down. 

Go well, sleep softly, sail on our warrior, of course, as Christians, we believe that when the days come, we shall reunite. Our ancestors are waiting for you to join them and we believe you will be watching over us and through your spirit guiding us to be the caring and responsible leaders that you want us to be for the beautiful Land of the Brave. 

Lala nawa Tatekulu kothapo (Tobias Gwetu), that’s the affectionate name we gave you in our family, especially when we did not want any other person next to us or around us to know that we were making reference to you. 

You were truly one of us and will remain one of us, only your space will be empty, but the wisdom you have left, the love you have given, will blossom in our hearts and the pride of nationhood you inculcated in our minds, we will treasure them forever. 

S hafiishuna , omumat i gwaNujoma, ngaashi walombwelele iigwana mo Geneva kutya o PLAN yaNamibia kayi na esiku nayi ka tulepo eendjebo manga inaali manguluka. Otwekupandula shaashi omauvaneko ageshe waningile ogawanithwa methimbo wuli momweyo, methimbo wu ga wete no wa kala mokutupukulula, no kutu ukililitha, nokutu guna tukwashilipaleke kutya Namibia olyamanguluka notashikala oshilongo shesindano. 

Kafudhepo nawa Tatekulu, itatu ku dhimbwa, na unene itatu mana oku ku lila, shaashi ongwee kwali Tate yetu, Tatekulu, ongwee wali He yoshigwana shaNamibia. Ashike otushi tutya oshishani shoye shesidano osheku tegelela kolulyo lwaKalunga Tate. 

Your mission on earth is indeed accomplished. Condolences to Kuku Kovambo, Hon. Utoni, Tate Nefungo, Mee Usuta and the entire family. 

May your precious and brave soul rest in eternal peace. 

Lucia Iipumbu, Minister, MP