Namibia’s first president and liberation hero, Sam Nujoma, who spearheaded his nation’s struggle for independence from South Africa, passed away on Saturday at the age of 95, according to an Nujomaannouncement by the presidency.
President Nangolo Mbumba, in a statement on Sunday, revealed that he had been hospitalised for three weeks due to an illness from which he ultimately “could not recover.”
“With the utmost sorrow and sadness,” Mbumba said, “the passing of our revered freedom fighter and revolutionary leader” is being announced.
“Our Founding Father lived a long and consequential life during which he exceptionally served the people of his beloved country,” Mbumba added.
Nujoma was born into a humble family of Ovambo farmers and was the oldest of 10 siblings. In 1949, he worked as a railway sweeper near Windhoek while attending night school.
During that time, he crossed paths with Herero tribal chief Hosea Kutako, who was leading efforts to end apartheid rule in the territory then called South West Africa.
Kutako became a mentor to Nujoma, guiding him as he joined the resistance against a government relocation order targeting black workers in the late 1950s.
At Kutako’s urging, Nujoma went into exile in 1960, leaving behind his wife and four children.
That same year, he was elected president of the South West People’s Organisation. Nujoma traveled extensively, visiting various capitals to gain support for Namibia’s independence.
In 1966, SWAPO took up arms after South Africa ignored a UN resolution to relinquish its control over the former German colony, claiming the territory was needed as a buffer against communism.
Namibia, a resource-rich nation in sub-Saharan Africa, finally gained its independence in 1990, becoming one of the last African countries to achieve freedom.
Nujoma won the country’s first democratic election and served three terms as president, overseeing years of relative stability and economic growth.
His AIDS policy drew international commendation, but Nujoma was also criticized for refusing to reintegrate several hundred SWAPO members detained in Angola as suspected spies for apartheid South Africa.
In 2001, he made headlines for his strong opposition to homosexuality, referring to it as “madness” and warning that gays and lesbians would be arrested or deported.
In 2005, Nujoma handed over power to his chosen successor, Hifikepunye Pohamba, who won the presidency with ease.
However, Nujoma was still seen as a powerful figure in Namibian politics until he formally retired in 2007.
President Mbumba reflected on Nujoma’s impact, saying, he “inspired us to rise to our feet and to become masters of this vast land of our ancestors.”
President-elect Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah hailed Nujoma’s “visionary leadership and dedication to liberation and nation-building,” acknowledging his role in building a free and united Namibia.
“Let us honour his legacy by upholding resilience, solidarity, and selfless service,” said Nandi-Ndaitwah, who will assume office next month after winning the November elections.
