Leaders around the globe are paying tribute to Sam Nujoma, Namibia’s first president following its independence.
He passed away at the age of 95 in Windhoek, as announced by the current president. Nujoma took office in 1990 after the country gained independence and served until 2005. Nujoma was instrumental in the establishment of Swapo, which began as a liberation movement in 1960, and played a pivotal role in the struggle for independence from South Africa, culminating in Namibia’s liberation in 1990.
His death was announced by the sitting President Mbumba Nangolo,
The deceased had been hospitalised over the past three weeks.
“He inspired us to rise to our feet and to become masters of this vast land of our ancestors. Our founding father lived a long and consequential life during which he exceptionally served the people of his beloved country,” President Nangolo noted in statement.
King Charles III expressed that he and Queen Camilla were “deeply saddened” by the news of Nujoma’s passing.
According to the BBC, in a statement from Buckingham Palace, the King honored Nujoma’s “lifelong dedication to freedom and democracy” and acknowledged his “significant” impact on history.
South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa honored the former Namibian president in a heartfelt tribute, describing him as an extraordinary freedom fighter.
He highlighted the significant impact the leader had not only in Namibia’s struggle against colonialism but also in the pivotal movement that brought an end to white-minority rule in South Africa in 1994.
Although Nujoma stepped down as head of state in 2005, he remained active in leadership until 2007, when he resigned as president of the ruling Swapo party after nearly five decades of service.
Nujoma is widely recognized for fostering peace and stability following Namibia’s independence from South Africa in 1990, a time when the country was under white-minority rule.
His policy of national reconciliation encouraged the white community to stay, allowing them to continue contributing significantly to agriculture and other economic sectors.
Additionally, he advocated for the rights of women and children, implementing measures that required fathers to provide financial support for children born outside of marriage.
