THE great baobab of Namibia has fallen. Sam Nujoma, the founding father of the Namibian nation and tireless champion of African liberation, has passed away at 95, leaving behind a legacy that will echo through generations.
From humble beginnings tending cattle in Ongandjera, Nujoma rose to become a towering figure in the struggle against apartheid and colonialism. His journey from a railway worker to the architect of Namibian independence embodies the very spirit of African resilience and determination.
For three decades, Nujoma carried the torch of freedom through the darkest nights of exile, never wavering in his vision of a free Namibia. As the founder and leader of SWAPO, he transformed a local movement into a powerful force for national liberation, steering his people through a 24-year armed struggle that would ultimately lead to independence.
When dawn finally broke on March 21, 1990, it was Nujoma who stood before his people as their first president, tasked with healing the wounds of a divided nation. With wisdom and foresight, he chose the path of reconciliation over retribution, extending an olive branch to former oppressors while working tirelessly to lift up the oppressed.
Under his fifteen-year presidency, Namibia emerged as a beacon of stability in southern Africa. He built not just a government, but a nation – establishing universities, expanding access to education, and laying the foundations for economic progress. His vision reached far beyond Namibia’s borders, as he worked to assert his country’s sovereignty while engaging with regional challenges.
Even in retirement, Nujoma’s thirst for knowledge and growth never dimmed. At 76, he earned a master’s degree in geology, showing the same determination that had characterized his revolutionary years.
Today, Namibia bids farewell to more than just a leader – they say goodbye to a father, a freedom fighter, a nation-builder, and a true African patriot. From the windswept dunes of the Namib to the lush valleys of Kavango, his legacy lives on in every classroom built, every democratic institution established, and every Namibian child who grows up in freedom.
Dr. Nangolo Mbumba, the President of Namibia, said: “The foundations of the Republic of Namibia have been shaken. Over the past three weeks, the founding President of the Republic of Namibia and founding father of the Namibian Nation was hospitalised for medical treatment and medical observation due to ill health. Unfortunately, this time, the most gallant son of our land could not recover from his illness.
“Our Founding Father lived a long and consequential life during which he exceptionally served the people of his beloved country. Our Founding Father heroically marshalled the Namibian people during the darkest hours of our liberation struggle until the attainment of freedom and independence on the 21st of March 1990. As Founding President, Dr. Sam Nujoma provided maximum leadership to our nation and spared no effort to motivate each and every Namibian to build a country that would stand tall and proud among the nations of the world. In that vein,
our venerable leader, Dr. Nujoma did not only blaze the trail to freedom – but he also inspired us to rise to our feet and to become masters of this vast land of our ancestors. During this period of national mourning, we should be comforted by the unmatched leadership and extraordinary contributions of President Nujoma to the liberation struggle, the development and unity of the Namibian people.”
Ordinary Namibians also paid warm tributes to Nujoma. Rest in power, Tate Sam, they said. “Your revolution is complete, but your dream of a prosperous and united Namibia continues to inspire new generations. You showed us that even the mightiest trees grow from small seeds, and the nation you planted will continue to flourish under the African sun,” said one social media post.
