Renthia Kaimbi
Vice President Lucia Witbooi has paid tribute to President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, highlighting her journey from liberation struggle exile to becoming Namibia’s first female Head of State, during the Heroes’ Day Commemoration at the Heroes’ Acre in Windhoek.
Delivering introductory remarks at the national event, Witbooi described the occasion as one of immense respect and honour, noting that 26 August remains a day on which Namibians rededicate themselves to the noble ideals of freedom, unity, justice and peace – the very principles for which the nation’s liberation heroes and heroines took up arms.
She emphasised that this year’s commemoration was made particularly significant by the presence of distinguished Namibians who personally participated in the liberation struggle and continue to serve the nation.
Witbooi stated, Nandi-Ndaitwah, whom she described as a distinguished daughter of Namibia, a freedom fighter, and a stateswoman whose life and public service are deeply intertwined with the nation’s liberation and development history.
Tracing the President’s journey, Witbooi recounted that in 1974, at a remarkably young age, Nandi-Ndaitwah left Namibia to join the liberation struggle in exile.
She went on to serve as SWAPO Chief Representative in Lusaka from 1978 to 1980, and subsequently as Chief Representative for East Africa, based in Dar es Salaam, from 1980 to 1986.
In 1989, she returned to Namibia to participate in the United Nations-supervised elections and the transition to independence.
Following independence in 1990, she became a Member of the National Assembly, later serving as Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Director-General of Women Affairs, and holding several senior ministerial portfolios.
Witbooi further noted that Nandi-Ndaitwah’s distinguished career culminated in making history as the first female Vice President, and later, following the 2024 elections, as the first female President of the Republic of Namibia.
“On 21 March 2025, on the occasion of Namibia’s 35th Independence Anniversary, she took the Oath of Office as the fifth President of the Republic of Namibia and Commander-in-Chief of the Namibian Defence Force,” Vice President Witbooi stated.
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