Part of the reasons why Namibia was able to become a peaceful, stable and developing democracy quite early on was largely due to late Founding President Sam Nujoma’s fierceness, decisiveness and daring leadership.
This is the view of Popular Democratic Movement (PDM) president McHenry Venaani in his tribute to the late statesman.
Nujoma, who died on 8 February aged 95, was on Saturday laid to rest at the Heroes’ Acre outside Windhoek by hundreds of Namibians of all walks of life, foreign dignitaries and various heads of state.
Venaani said Nujoma would go down in history as a man with no equals in Namibian political theatre.
The PDM leader was speaking at last Friday’s memorial service at the Windhoek Independence Stadium in honour of the departed statesman.
He said the vigour that saw Nujoma become part of a rare breed of African revolutionaries who dismantled racial segregation in southern Africa was the same when it was time to safeguard Namibia’s peace and development after independence.
“Nujoma was fierce and fury. He was not just a leader but a force to be reckoned with. He was equally a master tactician in the political theatre. After independence, Nujoma was the first to announce the word ‘national reconciliation’. At the time, most Namibians had no idea what it meant. That is how special Nujoma was,” he recalled.
Venaani, a longtime leader of the country’s official opposition, said he would watch from across the chambers of Parliament as president Nujoma transformed local politics and argue the country’s developmental perspectives through his firmness and decision-making.
“The man we are gathered here to celebrate was very firm. He could defend his political position when being attacked by the opposition. He would make sure that his particular position or plan is implemented. We all remember his famous Cabinet reshuffles, where you would hear at 7h00 or 8h00 on the morning news that certain individuals have been fired or replaced.
That’s how decisive and fierce he was. We in the opposition also feared him,” said Venaani. Reflecting on Nujoma’s personality, he said Nujoma would welcome people with a beaming smile.
However, as soon as you crossed the line, you would be immediately reprimanded with his famous wagging finger to let you know where he stood on a particular subject, he said.
“Through that, we came to respect him as a politician and leader of the Namibian people.
Nujoma is a man from a different era that produced extraordinary personalities. Here, in Namibia, he was an icon and an extraordinary leader, who always put Namibians first.”
In one of their last personal meetings, Venaani recalled that Nujoma asked him to table a motion in the National Assembly for the construction of a desalination plant, something which he proudly did, as he knew it was for the benefit of all Namibians.
“I obliged and tabled the motion, a testament that Nujoma was a leader to all, irrespective of their different political views,” added Venaani.
Nujoma led Namibia’s liberation struggle as the leader of Swapo between 1960 and 1989 before becoming the country’s first president in 1990. He served as president until 2005, leading Swapo from 1960 to 2007.
– ohembapu@nepc.com.na