February a dark month in Namibia’s history – Mbumba

… President says nation was just beginning to heal from Geingob’s loss when death struck again

For another consecutive year, February has been a month of grieving for Namibia.

It has been described as a diffcult time for president Nangolo Mbumba, who is currently finishing former president Hage Geingob’s presidential term.

Mbumba has assumed the role of chief mourner at a state funeral twice during his brief presidency.

“February is universally associated with love, purity and health. But for the second consecutive year, for us Namibians, this month has come to represent grief and mourning,” Mbumba said on Friday during the final memorial service for founding president Sam Nujoma at Independence Stadium in Windhoek.

“As our hearts were just beginning to heal from the loss in the same month last year of our beloved third president Hage Geingob, we lost our founding president, Sam Nujoma, this year,” he said.

Geingob died on 4 February last year and Nujoma on 8 February this year.

His death marked the end of an era of the region’s liberation struggle leaders.

Popular Democratic Movement (PDM) president McHenry Venaani yesterday said he deeply appreciates that the public came out in numbers to attend Nujoma’s burial at Heroes’ Acre in Windhoek on Saturday.

“I was really proud to see so many Namibians,” he said.

Venaani said people from all walks of life lifted their flags in solidarity to honour a fallen leader.

He expressed admiration and respect for Mbumba, who stood strong during a difficult time.

“It defined him as his biggest leadership moment and dedication,” he said.
Venaani said he is not afraid to openly say he respects Mbumba.

‘SPEECHES ALL THE SAME’

Political analyst Rui Tyitende yesterday agreed that February inded casts a dark cloud over Namibian history.

“It appears that February has become an unfortunate month for Namibian statesmen, but we need to make peace with the fact that biology does not discriminate,” he said.

The analyst said all the speeches made prior to and during the funeral speaks to the character and significance of Nujoma.

“He was an actor on a stage he had set for himself, playing a role he had scripted,” he said.

Tyitende said most of the speeches delivered were similar in both content and thought.

“How is that for pomposity? We should be honest about the dishonesty that pervades political debate,” he said.

One of the speakers Tyiende referred to is ambassador Kaire Mbuende, who was fired by Nujoma in May 2004, alongside then foreign affairs minister Hidipo Hamutenya.

Mbuende was Hamutenya’s deputy at the time. No reasons were given for this move.

Mbuende on Thursday said Nujoma instilled values of honesty, integrity, hard work, and commitment in others.

The analyst said there were so many people whose political careers were crushed by Nujoma, yet the same people had nothing but flattering comments to make about his legacy.

AGAINST DISCRIMINATION

Meanwhile, former president Hifikepunye Pohamba on Friday called for young people to work hard to honour Nujoma’s legacy.

“These include his strong belief in hard work, unity of purpose, national reconciliation and rejection of the vices of tribalism, ethnicity and regionalism,” he said.

Pohamba’s sentiments were reiterated on Saturday at the burial when former poverty eradication minister and bishop Zephania Kameeta called for unity.

Kameeta said Nujoma kept Namibians together and this was evident after his death was announced.

“Let’s not stand for childish things like robbing each other and cursing each other because we do not belong to the same political party, or setting boundaries just because we speak the same languages,” the bishop said.

MBUMBA’S TERM

United Democratic Front (UDF) spokesperson Mabasen Narib over the weekend commended Mbumba for his strong character and leadership.

“We really sympathise with him and commend him for leading the nation even though the two presidents were his comrades and close friends. As a country, we had no idea how to go about it, but under his leadership we managed,” Narib said.

He said Mbumba deserves flowers while he is still alive.

Narib said the UDF stands in unity and strength with Mbumba and wishes him all the strength as he finishes the remaining part of his term.

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