Namibia’s founding father, Sam Nujoma, passed away on Saturday at the age of 95, leaving behind a legacy of fighting for his country’s independence from South Africa. According to President Nangolo Mbumba, Nujoma had been hospitalized for three weeks battling an illness that ultimately proved fatal.
Born to poor farmers from the Ovambo tribe, Nujoma rose to become a key figure in Namibia’s struggle for independence. He began his political journey in the 1950s, meeting influential figures like Herero tribal chief Hosea Kutako, who mentored him in his early years . Nujoma’s leadership skills and dedication to the cause earned him the presidency of the South West Peoples’ Organisation (SWAPO) in 1960.
Under Nujoma’s leadership, SWAPO launched an armed struggle against South Africa in 1966, which ultimately led to Namibia’s independence in 1990. He served as the country’s first democratically elected president, winning three consecutive terms and presiding over a period of relative economic prosperity and political stability.
Nujoma’s legacy is complex, with both praise and criticism for his policies and actions. His efforts to combat AIDS earned him international recognition, but he faced criticism for his stance on homosexuality and his treatment of former SWAPO fighters imprisoned in Angola.
Tributes have poured in for Nujoma, with President-elect Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah praising his “visionary leadership and dedication to liberation and nation-building.” President Mbumba remembered Nujoma as a “revered freedom fighter and revolutionary leader” who inspired a nation to rise up and claim its independence.
