Nujoma’s messenger of 25 years remembers decisive leader

When Antonius Nakale met founding president Sam Nujoma in Lusaka, Zambia, in 1980, little did he know that 10 years down the line, he would become Nujoma’s most trusted messenger.

Now 67 years old, Nakale says with pride how he served Nujoma, Swapo and Namibia’s first president as a committed and trusted confidante for 25 years.

Nakale recently said he was 22 years old when he met Nujoma, then aged 51, for the first time.

His first assignment was as one of Nujoma’s informants between Lusaka and Lubango, Angola, where he was later transferred to in 1987 as head of information, responsible for all communication from the front line to Nujoma when he was visiting military front lines in southern Angola, while still serving as a combatant in the People’s Liberation Army of Namibia.

Three years later in April 1990, one month after Namibia gained independence from the apartheid South African regime, Nakale became the founding president’s right-hand informer responsible for communications between the world and Nujoma, witnessing some of Nujoma’s most defining moments of strength, conviction and decisiveness.

“He was decisive . . .what comes to his heart, he does not let go and he was prompt to make decisions,” he said of Nujoma.
Nakale admired Nujoma’s strength of instilling hard work in those around him.

With information gathering and dissemination never stopping and being his right-hand man, Nakale said he was involved in daily activities, including handling of calls on behalf of Nujoma, collection of medication, getting passports stamped, carrying bags and suitcases, and ensuring the president’s safety.

“Nujoma fostered dedication and had a vision. We were so loyal to work that money came second. He trusted me with everything. I never really had time to visit my home as he told me, ‘Let us work’. Information was all the time, so crucial information I had to inform him of immediately,” he recounted.

Nakale also remembered Nujoma’s determination to complete the construction of the railway line from Tsumeb to Ondangwa, even when some people said it was impossible and that he was wasting his time.

“Nujoma decided and it was done. Like many Namibians, he picked up a spade to show that it can be done.”

When Nujoma retired as Namibian president in 2005, he asked for Nakale’s transfer to the Namibian Police Force to continue as messenger for former president Hifikepunye Pohamba.

Nakale remembered Nujoma paying him a visit in 2014 when he suffered a stroke which led to his hospitalisation for two months; a gesture of Nujoma’s caring heart, he said.

“I am thankful for his prayers and those who prayed for my recovery and here I am today, talking about this gallant son of Namibia.”
Nakale, who retired from the police with the rank of commissioner in 2018, said Nujoma had his vision.

“Namibia is free forever. I never thought my exile days would bring me to becoming Nujoma’s trusted man. Ninety-five years is not a joke. His mates of (Robert) Mugabe, (Nelson) Mandela, (Kenneth) Kaunda died. . . We are thankful that he has done enough for us to carry on,” he said.

– Nampa

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