Justus //Garoeb recalls Nujoma’s quest for independence

Former United Democratic Front leader Justus //Garoeb on Tuesday recalled his escapades in Zambia alongside founding president Sam Nujoma.

Speaking at the memorial service held in honour of the late Nujoma at Khorixas, //Garoeb, in a speech read on his behalf, reminisced about how he first met Nujoma as a young man in Walvis Bay.

“I was literally a young man in Walvis Bay when I met the founding president. We stayed next to comrade Nathaniel Muxulili and thereafter met many times in meetings of allied nations internationally during the liberation struggle.”

//Garoeb wrote that he had visited Lusaka with his Damara Raad delegation during the liberation struggle to join forces and strategise in the fight against apartheid.

“I came there with the Damara Raad leaders, and we stayed in Lusaka for about two weeks,” //Garoeb wrote.

“When I met late Nujoma for the first time in Lusaka, I knew I saw a wise man, a brave man, and a leader with a dream to liberate the then South West Africa from apartheid and colonialism.”

//Garoeb recalled himself, Nujoma, and Kenneth Kaunda as the ‘Trio’, having serious talks at Kaunda’s private lodge in Zambia. He said the late Hage Geingob had tasked him with persuading Nujoma to lay down arms and join peace talks with the United Nations (UN) peace settlement.

“Talking to an imperialist is something the late Nujoma was not fond of. He said ‘going to elections may look like the People’s Liberation Army of Namibia is defeated’,” the speech read.

//Garoeb wrote that Nujoma eventually agreed after a week of classified discussions. Simultaneously, the UN had plans for a conference, which led to the Lusaka Conference from 11 to 13 March 1984.

“During the Lusaka Conference, the Damara Raad sat together with comrades from progressive forces, church leaders, the DTA, and Swapo,” //Garoeb said.

He acknowledged that the negotiations were not easy, yet, in the end, all parties laid down their weapons and supported the UN-monitored elections, which led to Namibia’s independence in 1990.

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