Ester Mbathera
At 04h40 on Sunday morning, President Nangolo Mbumba announced the passing of Founding President Sam Shafiishuna Nujoma, who had been hospitalised for the past three weeks.
“Unfortunately, the most gallant son of our land could not recover from illness,” said Mbumba.
Nujoma passed away at the age of 95 on 8 February at 23h45 at Lady Pohamba Private Hospital in Windhoek.
“Our Founding Father lived a long and consequential life during which he 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 from Apartheid South Africa on the 21st of March 1990,” said Mbumba.
At the Nujoma residence in Avis, family and friends began gathering to mourn. His widow, Kovambo Nujoma, sat surrounded by their children—Uutoni, Sacky, and Usuta.
Familiar faces from the liberation struggle arrived, their expressions marked by sorrow and disbelief.
They consoled one another, trying to come to terms with the loss of a leader and father figure.
President-elect Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, accompanied by her husband, Epaphras Denga Ndaitwah, is joined by Swapo’s information secretary, Hilma Nicanor, and Pan-African Women’s Organisation (PAWO) president, Eunice Ipinge, in a private conversation with the grieving family.
Emotions ran high in the corridors of the residence, where staff members broke down in tears, mourning the man they had served for years.
They wept, calling out, “Omukokoli wetu, omuholike wetu” (our founder, our love), their voices heavy with grief.
Shortly thereafter, President Mbumba arrived, accompanied by First Lady Sustjie Mbumba, who had been by his side since he assumed office on 4 February 2024 following the passing of President Hage Geingob.
Mbumba offered words of comfort to Nujoma’s widow, assuring her that she was not alone.
“We came to our mother to kneel in front of her and to tell her, she is not alone. Meme, you are not alone. You will be with. You will be with the family. We will do what needs to be done,” said Mbumba.
Former President Hifikepunye Pohamba was notably absent, as he is mourning the loss of his sister.
Mbumba said that arrangements would be made to bring Pohamba to Windhoek once his sister had been laid to rest.
Outside, one of Nujoma’s most trusted aides, John Nauta, stood in quiet reflection.
He recalled the days spent working alongside the founding president.
“Nujoma was a very hard-working person. A person who also wanted the people who worked with him to work hard. If he wakes up at 5h00 he wants all of us to do the same. Most of the time we had to learn from him. When we are in Henties Bay and he wakes up at 06h00 and wants to go fishing. But the fishing grounds can be 200km to 300km away. If you like sleeping, you will find that he is already gone. During the rainy season, we would go to Ongandjera during cultivation time; he expected everybody to go in the field,” he said.
According to Nauta, Nujoma made little distinction between Sundays and working days.
“It was his mother who would chase him out of the field and remind him that Sundays are for resting. He always complied. We were saved by kuku waKondombolo,” he said.
Nauta said he would deeply miss Nujoma’s morning exercise routines, his humour, and the revolutionary songs he often sang.
Former Minister of Home Affairs, Pendukeni Ivula-Ithana, shared her own memories of Nujoma.
To her and others who went into exile at a young age, he was more than a leader; he was a father figure.
“When we joined Swapo, we found a father figure in him. In his care, we found solace, we found strength, and we found courage to wage the struggle. Nujoma was an extraordinary person who, when you are on the right side of life, has a very strong supporter. Don’t be on the wrong side of his leadership,” she said.
Kashindi Ausiku, who spent years documenting Nujoma’s life in retirement, reflected on his deep passion for the country and its children.
“He was very passionate about education because he wanted all the children educated from kindergarten to university,” said Kashindi.
In 2013, Nujoma personally initiated the construction of Etunda Primary School and a clinic on his farm, ensuring that future generations had access to the opportunities he fought for.
