Linea Dishena
Retired Lieutenant General of the Namibian Defence Force Martin Shalli, who was Chief of Operations of the People’s Liberation Army of Namibia (Plan), has hailed late Founding President, Sam Nujoma as a warrior.
“Warriors do not die, they fade away,” he said.
Paying tribute on behalf of ex-Plan combatants at Nujoma’s residence in Windhoek last week, Shalli said: “Nujoma will live among us for many years to come.”
Nujoma died on 8 February.
“Today, Sam Nujoma remains the greatest warrior for independence and social justice this great land has ever produced. It is the Land of the Brave, but Nujoma stands tallest,” he said.
Shalli emphasised that the late statesman sacrificed his life for the common good of all society.
“We pay tribute and respect, as Plan combatants and veterans of the liberation struggle, to this most gallant son, our grand commander, commander of commanders. We equally remember all those who have fallen before him, and whose blood continues to water our freedom,” he noted.
He said Nujoma was not only a president and commander-in-chief, but he was also an architect-in-chief of the liberation struggle.
Shalli highlighted that decisiveness, boldness, integrity, commitment, foresighted vision, including Vision 2030, conviction, bravery, patriotism, Pan-Africanist and steadfastness – are all embodied in Nujoma.
Shalli noted that Nujoma’s two mantras were ‘Never fight a battle you know you are not going to win’ and ‘When the enemy advances, you retreat.’
“President Nujoma had a vision.
He also had a passion for education. He sent many to be trained and educated, a strategy that worked well,” he said.
“One thing Nujoma did was to build Plan into a formidable, effective fighting machine, capable of taking on the mighty racist military.
We did not fear white people,” he added.
“Today, the Namibian Defence Force (NDF) is something we must all be proud of, and we must be proud of ourselves as a nation. Nujoma had set a vision for NDF to be highly-mobile, well-trained, resourced, fed and paid, with the mission to defend the territory of Namibia, its people and our national interests,” noted Shalli.
The nation must remember Nujoma for bringing them independence first and foremost, and also for bringing peace and stability thereafter, he said.
“[Nujoma] built a very strong foundation upon which all of us are required to build. His deeds will continue to echo in mountains, valleys, in the desert, as well as in our homes. He is a national hero that we shall not forget.
His legacy will only be kept alive by us following his teachings of unity.”
-Nampa