Nujoma wanted us to protect Swapo – Shaningwa

Swapo secretary general Sophia Shaningwa said late founding president Sam Nujoma always urged supporters to protect the party.

Shaningwa said this during Nujoma’s first regional memorial service, held at his residence at Etunda village in the Omusati region’s Okahao constituency on Thursday.

She said during a visit with Nujoma in October in 2024, he implored her to protect the party, and be united and vigilant as there were those who want the Swapo to lose power.

“We vow to honour his words, to protect the party, unify the Namibian people and remain vigilant,” she stated.

Shaningwa further said Swapo supporters and Namibians at large are mourning and celebrating the life of a liberation struggle icon whose life was filled with purpose.

She added that the Swapo-led government, under Nujoma’s leadership, rolled out many developmental projects designed to bring services – such as education, healthcare, water, electricity and housing – closer to people.

Shaningwa noted that after Nujoma was elected as president in 1990, he pushed through policies and a comprehensive legislative agenda designed to heal the wounds of apartheid injustice.

The Swapo secretary general further said that, as they come to terms with Nujoma’s passing, she, on behalf of the party, expresses special consolation to commanders and former combatants of the People’s Liberation Army of Namibia, the veterans of liberation struggle and the special unit that protected the founding president.

“Swapo extends its heartfelt condolences to his beloved wife, Meekulu Kovambo Nujoma, the entire Nujoma family and the Namibian nation at large,” said Shaningwa.

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