First president of Namibia dies aged 95
Credit: AFP
Namibia’s first president, Sam Nujoma, has died at the age of 95 in the capital, Windhoek, the country’s current leader, announced.
A revolutionary figure, Nujoma spearheaded the fight for independence from South Africa, culminating in Namibia’s liberation in 1990.
Nujoma, who helped establish the South West People’s Organisation (Swapo) in the 1960s, served as Namibia’s president from 1990 to 2005. After leading the nation for 15 years, he continued as head of Swapo until stepping down in 2007, marking the end of an era.
President Nangolo Mbumba, announcing his passing, expressed “utmost sorrow and sadness” and hailed Nujoma’s legacy. “He inspired us to rise to our feet and to become masters of this vast land of our ancestors,” he stated, emphasizing Nujoma’s role in shaping Namibia’s destiny.
Fondly remembered as the “father of the nation,” Nujoma was credited with maintaining peace and stability after independence.
His policy of national reconciliation ensured that Namibia’s white community remained integrated into the economy, especially in farming and key sectors. He was also a champion of women’s and children’s rights, enforcing laws requiring fathers to support children born out of wedlock.
Vice-President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, set to be inaugurated as president in March, praised Nujoma’s “visionary leadership and dedication to nation-building.”
Tributes have poured in from across Africa, with the AU Commission’s chairman, Moussa Faki Mahamat, calling him “the epitome of courage,” while Kenya’s President William Ruto honored him as a “visionary leader” committed to Namibia’s development.
