Sam Nujoma’s Funeral in Images

LAYING OF WREATHS … Following founding president Sam Nujoma’s burial at Heroes’ Acre in Windhoek on Saturday, top government officials, including president Nangolo Mbumba, and heads of state from the SADC region laid wreaths at his gravesite to pay their last respects.Photos: Mitchelin Kangootui

DISBELIEF … A mourner looks on in disbelief at the funeral of founding president Sam Nujoma at Heroes’ Acre on Saturday. Photo: Veripuami Kangumine

SOMBRE … Mourners at founding president Sam Nujoma’s funeral at Heroes’ Acre on Saturday. Photo: Veripuami Kangumine

ROBBED … A mourner in a traditional Namibian flag dress feels robbed by the death of founding president Sam Nujoma. Photo: Veripuami Kangumine

FLAG DOWN … A mourner with a flag mourns founding president Sam Nujoma at Heroes’ Acre on Saturday. Photo: Veripuami Kangumine

HEARTBREAK … Mourners at Heroes’ Acre at the funeral of founding president Sam Nujoma are heartbroken. Photo: Veripuami Kangumine

CASKET ARRIVAL … Founding president Sam Nujoma’s casket arrived at Heroes’ Acre in Windhoek on Saturday. Photo: Martin Endjala

GATHERING … Both ordinary folk and dignitaries are arriving at Heroes’ Acre, on the outskirts of Windhoek, to lay to rest founding president Sam Nujoma.

REPRESENTING NIGERIA … Nigerian vice president Kashim Shettima attended the burial of founding president Sam Nujoma in Windhoek on Saturday. Nigeria was one of the frontline states that helped Namibia gain independence. Photo: Mitchelin Kangootui

FULL HOUSE … Heroes’ Acre is packed to the brim as Namibians gather to burry founding president Sam Nujoma. Photo: Otto Gottlieb

REPRESENTING ZIMBABWE … Zimbabwean president Emmerson Mnangagwa was among those in attendance of founding president Sam Nujoma’s funeral in Windhoek on Saturday. Photo: Mitchelin Kangootui

BROTHERLY LOVE … Former Mozambican president Joachim Chicano is among the dignitaries attending founding president Sam Nujoma’s burial at Heroes’ Acre. Photo: Mitchelin Kangootui

CROWD … Members of the public showed up in numbers at founding president Sam Nujoma’s funeral at Heroes’ Acre in Windhoek on Saturday. Among them were various top officials, like Malawi’s vice president, Michael Usi, and former South African president Thabo Mbeki. Former first lady of Zimbabwe Grace Mugabe also attended. Photo: Martin Endjala

‘CITIZEN NAHAS’ … Former minister Nahas Angula arriving for founding president Sam Nujoma’s burial at Heroes’ Acre in Windhoek on Saturday. Photo: Mitchelin Kangootui

NEIGHBOURLY … Former Botswana president Ian Khama arriving at Heroes’ Acre in Windhoek on Saturday. Photo: Mitchelin Kangootui

FILLING UP … Crowds gathered at the Heroes’ Acre early on Saturday morning in anticipation of the burial of founding president Sam Nujoma. Photo: Mitchelin Kangootui

DIGNITARIES ARRIVING … Minister of finance and public enterprises Iipumbu Shiimi arriving at Heroes’ Acre outside Windhoek on Saturday. Photo: Mitchelin Kangootui

FORMER FIRST LADY JOINS … Former first lady Monica Geingos arriving at Heroes’ Acre in Windhoek on Saturday. Photo: Mitchelin Kangootui

IRON LADY … Swapo secretary general Sophia Shaningwa has arrived at Heroes’ Acre for the burial of founding president Sam Nujoma. Photo: Mitchelin Kangootui

COMMISSIONER ARRIVING … Green hydrogen commissioner James Mnyupe arriving at Heroes’ Acre in Windhoek on Saturday. Photo: Mitchelin Kangootui

FORMER MINISTER … Swapo politician and former minister of trade and industry Ben Amathila arriving at Heroes’ Acre in Windhoek on Saturday. Photo: Mitchelin Kangootui

OLD FRIENDS … Former South African president Thabo Mbeki arriving at Heroes’ Acre in Windhoek on Saturday for the state funeral of founding president Sam Nujoma. Mbeki and Nujoma shared close ties in exile and as presidents. Video: Mitchelin Kangootui

ARRIVAL … Former first lady of Zimbabwe Grace Mugabe has arrived at Heroes’ Acre for the burying of founding president Sam Nujoma. Photo: Walter Kariko