Eba Kandovazu
Founding President Sam Nujoma’s former chief of protocol and Namibia’s current ambassador to Angola Patrick Nandago, said working for Nujoma was always a learning opportunity for him.
In an interview with Nampa on Monday, Nandago said he first met Nujoma in 1977 in Lubango, Angola, while he (Nandago) served as a combatant in the People’s Liberation Army of Namibia (PLAN).
“That year, the Swapo central committee meeting was held in Lubango. After that, the founding father, along with his leadership of the Swapo central committee, came to see us at the Tobias Hainyeko training centre. Over the next four years that I spent at the centre, [Nujoma] always addressed the trainees as they graduated to give directives on how to fight the enemy to liberate our country through the barrel of the gun,” he narrated.
He got closer to Nujoma in 1986 after his transfer from PLAN to Swapo’s provisional headquarters in Luanda. There, he worked as protocol chief in the office of the Swapo secretary of administration, Moses Garoeb.
“That brought me closer to the late founding president because I was responsible for all consular services at the Swapo headquarters,” Nandago said, describing the late statesman as a sharp-shooter, whose rifle-handling skills were immaculate.
“He loved hunting. He was always careful with his health. He woke up early to exercise,” he added.
At 38, Nandago assumed the role of chief of protocol in the Office of the President in 1997, succeeding Martin Andjamba. He served in the position for seven years.
“I was responsible for his daily programmes. That included local and international engagements. I would facilitate all the meetings between the president and other leaders,” he said.
Nandago said Nujoma was always in touch with his soldiers, and often visited them in exile.
“To work with president Nujoma was not very difficult because I worked with a person I knew – a person I was close to for many years. He was a great leader to work with. You could learn a lot if you were willing to learn and become someone,” he stated.
He added that Nujoma will be remembered as the sculptor of the Namibian revolution, and an exponent of the fight against colonialism and racial oppression.
“Nujoma’s contribution to the well-being of the Namibian people is immeasurable. His passing is a monumental loss, which has left a lasting void. Namibia will not be the same without Shafiishuna. Let the legacy of the founding father be sustained. Let it keep us all together as a nation,” Nandago said.
-Nampa