The founding president had a high regard for health – Shangula

Minister of health and social services Kalumbi Shangula delivered a tribute in honour of the late founding president Sam Nujoma in Windhoek on 18 February 2025.

Directors of the programme; meme Kovambo Nujoma, our first first lady; comrade Utoni Nujoma and your siblings; the entire bereaved Nujoma, Kondombolo and Mushimba families.
Dear mourners gathered here this evening and those following the proceedings online, fellow Namibians!

I stand here to pay tribute to our founding president, the father of the Namibian nation, the first president of the independent Republic of Namibia, on behalf of the Ministry of Health and Social Services, the medical team that managed and cared for the founding president during the time of indisposition, the medical fraternity and, indeed, on my own behalf. 

The medical fraternity and all health workers are shattered and devastated by the demise of our hero, our founding president. We join other Namibians and progressive forces in Africa and around the world in mourning this icon.

While we mourn, let us all be fortified by the rich legacy of sacrifice, bravery, fortitude, patriotism and exemplary leadership that our founding president leaves behind.

I first met comrade Sam Nujoma in Lusaka, Zambia, when I arrived from Namibia in August 1974. He was keen to know about what was happening in the country. We commemorated 26 August at the Old Farm outside Lusaka, where I spoke on behalf of the new arrivals from home. My message to the leadership was short and straight forward: We came to receive arms to liberate our country. 

This message resonated well with the leadership because soon thereafter, most of us were sent for military training in the Soviet Union.

I had numerous interactions with the founding president during the years in exile, most closely during meetings of the PLAN Military Council, of which he was the chairman and of course, commander-in-chief of the Peoples’ Liberation Army of Namibia (PLAN). Comrade Nujoma was a brilliant military strategist and tactician, and he commanded PLAN to victory.

After independence, I worked closely with him as his personal physician and accompanied him to various destinations inside and outside the country. I marvelled at his approach to conflict resolution, notably, between various traditional authorities. He would go to great lengths in order to gain the trust of the feuding parties and resolve the conflict successfully.

One thing that amazed and flattered me was when I was the permanent secretary of the Ministry of Health and Social Services. When he wanted to see me, he would not summon me as expected of him as president to do so. No! He would speak to me personally over the phone and ask if I have time to go and see him. I found that display of humility quite intriguing. He was a person of strong vision and action. When he wants something to be done, he would lead from the front, as was the case with the railway extension from Tsumeb to Ondangwa.

At independence, he introduced the Policy of National Reconciliation in order to foster peace for national development. He understood the value of education. In exile, he sent many young Namibians for studies, including myself, and after independence, he spearheaded and energetically championed the establishment of the University of Namibia. Through his tireless efforts, he laid the solid foundation for the current peaceful and democratic Namibia.

The late founding president was responsible for the transformation of the public health services from the ethnic-based arrangement into a national public health service that we know today. He introduced the policy of primary health care which forms the basis for the Universal Health Coverage. As a result of this transformation, all maternal and child health indicators have improved dramatically. The founding president had a soft spot and a high regard for health. In his salutations whenever he addresses a gathering, he never failed to recognise doctors and nurses. As a patient, he would religiously fulfil the doctor’s instructions. I used to refer to him as a model patient; a patient that every doctor would yearn to have.

We maintained close contact when he left the Office of the President. I have been a member of a medical team of doctors, nurses and other professionals who were responsible for his management and care and who are here today. I salute the medical team, doctors, nurses and other care-givers, that include Dr Kalunga and Dr Bueckendorf, sister Ileka, and Sr Itana for their diligence and perseverance until the founding president departed from this earth. The founding president has been strong throughout the period of indisposition. He was an embodiment of resilience, perseverance and self-discipline.

I am honoured and humbled to lead this team of health professionals from the medical fraternity to pay homage to this illustrious son of Namibia. He was the right person at the right time for Namibia during the liberation struggle. He led fearlessly and with unparalleled bravery, inspiring thousands to join the struggle and fight for our freedom and independence. He continued to lead with the same sense of vision after independence. Indeed, his role in moulding new Namibia will never be forgotten. Our hearts and prayers go to the family and to all of us as his extended family. We celebrate his life and its numerous accomplishments on different fronts. He will be sorely missed.

May the soul of Sam Nujoma rest in eternal peace.

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