The late Sam Nujoma, Namibia’s Founding Father, is being honored with a nationwide procession and series of regional memorial services.
His final journey began at State House in Windhoek, where officials gathered to pay their respects, and then proceeded to his home in Etunda.
Today, the procession continues to Eenhana, and will make its way to Rundu tomorrow, February 24, and then to Zambezi.
Over the next few days, the procession will travel to various locations across Namibia, including Grootfontein, Walvis Bay, and Keetmanshoop.
A street procession will take place in Windhoek on February 27, followed by a memorial service on February 28. Nujoma will be laid to rest at the National Heroes Acre on March 1.
Born on May 12, 1929, in Etunda, a village in Ongandjera, near Okahao, Ovamboland, South West Africa, Nujoma was a Namibian revolutionary, anti-apartheid activist, and politician.
He served three terms as the first president of Namibia, from 1990 to 2005. Nujoma was a founding member and the first president of the South West Africa People’s Organisation (SWAPO) in 1960.
Nujoma became involved in anti-colonial politics during the 1950s.
In 1959, he co-founded and served as the first president of the Ovamboland People’s Organization (OPO), a nationalist organization advocating an independent Namibia.
He played a crucial role as leader of the national liberation movement, campaigning for Namibia’s political independence from South African rule.
Nujoma established the People’s Liberation Army of Namibia (PLAN) in 1962 and launched a guerrilla war against the apartheid government of South Africa in August 1966.
He led SWAPO during the lengthy Namibian War of Independence, which lasted from 1966 to 1989.
After 29 years in exile, Nujoma returned to Namibia in September 1989 to lead SWAPO to victory in the UN-supervised elections.
He was sworn in as Namibia’s first president on March 21, 1990.
During his presidency, Nujoma proclaimed the policy of “national reconciliation,” aiming to improve and harmonize relations amongst Namibia’s various racial and ethnic groups.
Nujoma received multiple honors and awards for his leadership, including the Lenin Peace Prize and the Indira Gandhi Peace Prize.
The Parliament of Namibia conferred on him the titles “Founding President of the Republic of Namibia” and “Father of the Namibian Nation”.
