Tribute to founding president of Namibia Dr Sam Shafiishuna Nujoma, delivered by leader of the official opposition and president of the Popular Democratic Movement McHenry Venaani at Nujoma’s memorial service at the Independence Stadium in Windhoek on 28 February 2025.

1. Dr Nangolo Mbumba – president of Namibia and commander-in-chief of the Namibian Defence Force,
2. Dr Hifikepunye Pohamba – former president of Namibia,
3. Dr Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah – vice president and president-elect
   of Namibia,
4. Madam Kovambo Nujoma – widow, children, grandchildren and family representatives,
5. Director of ceremonies:
   ● Dr Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila – prime minister of
   Namibia,
   ● Frans Kapofi – minister of defence and veterans affairs,
6. John Mutorwa – deputy prime minister and minister of works and transport,
7. Air marshall Martin Pinehas – chief of the Namibian Defence Force,
8. Senior officers, officers, non-commissioned officers, and men and
   women of the Namibian Defence Force,
9. Members of the Namibian Police, Namibian Correctional Services, and other security agencies,
10. Professor Peter Katjavivi – speaker of the National Assembly,
11. Lukas Sinimbo Muha – chairperson of the National Council,
12. Peter Shivute – chief justice,
13. Dr George Simataa – secretary to the Cabinet,
14. Sophia Shaningwa – secretary general of the Swapo Party,
15. Laura McLeod-Katjirua – governor of the Khomas region,
16. Ndeshihafela Larandja – mayor of the City of Windhoek,
17. Members of parliament,
18. Gaob Immanuel /Gaseb –chairperson of the Council of Traditional
    Leaders,
19. Reverend Lorenst Raonga Kuzatjike, Macedonia Parish, and all men
    of the clergy,
20. Foreign heads of state,
21. Members of the diplomatic corps,
22. Members of the fourth estate,
23. Fellow Namibians,
24. Ladies and gentlemen,

For the past two weeks, our nation has been cloaked in sorrow, yet lifted by an outpouring of love, appreciation and reverence – testament not only to the man he was, but to the spirit he embodied as well.
From every corner of Namibia and across the African continent, voices have risen in grief, in gratitude, and in remembrance of a leader who was more than a statesman – he was the heartbeat of a revolution, the architect of our freedom, the father of our independence. And so, with deep reverence and heavy hearts, we gather to bid farewell to the giant among us – the founding president, the unwavering warrior, the last remaining sentinel of the frontline states.
The day we have long feared has come; the voice that once thundered against oppression is now silent, the guiding light that led Namibia to sovereignty has set beyond the horizon.
Yet even in his departure, his presence remains – etched into the fabric of this nation, carried in the hearts of those he fought for and woven into the heart of Africa’s struggle and triumph. He was a man who did not merely dream of freedom – he bled for it, he sacrificed for it, and he delivered it.
His name will never fade, for history does not forget those who shape it with their own hands. Let us remember him not with despair, but with the same unyielding spirit which he carried and although the great baobab has fallen, its roots run deep, and its seeds will sprout again.

Today, we might mourn, but tomorrow, we march forward – just as he would have wanted, just as he taught us to do.
The story of Sam Nujoma is a moving and compelling one – a narrative forged by sacrifice, and perseverance. He was certainly a leader who ignited the flame of independence in a country that had known only oppression and exploitation for centuries.

He was a leader who transformed from a humble rural child into the very first president of an independent Namibia, and this is a loss that reverberates across the length and the breadth of our Republic.

It goes without saying that resilience was a key demonstration throughout Dr Nujoma’s life. His path was one of resistance to colonialism and apartheid, starting when he left Namibia in search of education, as well as a deeper comprehension of the political landscape, and continuing until he became the leader of Swapo.
His unrelenting support for Namibia’s independence was profoundly emotional, as well as political. He had a very clear vision of a Namibia that was no longer bound by the past, but would stand proudly and free.
In his own words, Sam Nujoma spoke of the pride and responsibility that came with that hard-won freedom. The deep-rooted belief which he had in this country’s potential, a country that is no longer defined by its struggles, but rather by its hopes for a better, brighter tomorrow.

Sam Nujoma did not just lead his people in the fight for freedom; he was the living, breathing spirit of resistance. As president, his leadership was rooted in unity, peace, and justice for all. He would often speak of the weight of responsibility and the sacrifices required for Namibia’s freedom, knowing that his struggle was not just a political one, but a personal and a collective fight for justice.
He understood that true freedom wasn’t something that could solely be won on a battlefield – it had to be nurtured with love, understanding, and the shared will and desire of his people.
He might have been a towering figure, but he was also a man with extraordinary empathy, who was moved by injustice and would not sit idly by.
He led with humility and selflessness. Wole Soyinka, the Nigerian author once stated, “The man dies, but the spirit endures.”
Dr Nujoma most certainly was a man who lived up to that statement. In fact, even though he is no longer with us, his spirit endures – through the country that he helped to build, the vision he gave every Namibian, and every heart that keeps fighting for freedom, justice and peace. Under his upright leadership, Namibia became a ray of hope in the southern African region as well as the rest of the world.

Fellow mourners,
The lines of Linda Ellis’ poem, titled ‘The Dash’ serve as our motivation as we consider Sam Nujoma’s life. This poem serves as a reassuring reminder that our lives are defined by our deeds and influence, not by our birth-date or death date, and it would be remiss of me to not share it with you at this time.
This piece reminds us that while the year of an individual’s birth and the year of their passing are important, it’s the ‘dash’ between those dates that truly represents the essence of their life – what they did with their time, how they lived, and the impact they made. Sam Nujoma’s dash was one of unparalleled significance, one filled with determination, sacrifice and love for his people.
The late Dr Nujoma understood that the freedom Namibia fought for wasn’t a gift – it was earned through struggle, sacrifice, and unwavering commitment.
His vision for a free Namibia was not just a dream for one man, but a dream for an entire people, united in their determination to build a future of peace and prosperity. And that dream, that future, is being realised today.
From military bases to international forums at the United Nations, Nujoma
tirelessly advocated for Namibia’s right to self-determination.
His diplomatic
efforts, combined with the armed resistance, helped to bring Namibia’s plight to the world stage, garnering global attention and securing vital support from anti-colonial forces across Africa and beyond. These are bonds and relations that we continue to enjoy to this day.
His legacy is intricately linked to the greater African liberation movement and extends well beyond Namibia’s boundaries. Nujoma recognised, like so many other great African leaders before him, that the struggle for liberation was not limited to a single country.
It focused on Africa as a whole – its strength, solidarity and common vision of a more prosperous and liberated future. His sacrifices will always be a part of the history of Africa, and his leadership was felt throughout the continent, not only inside Namibia’s boundaries.
Sam Nujoma’s presidency was a period of both immense challenge and
profound triumph. He led a nation scarred by years of war and division and yet called for healing, unity and forgiveness.
It was not an easy task, by any stretch of the imagination, but he never asked his people what he wasn’t willing to do himself. He led with compassion, with strength and with a clear vision for a brighter future. Under his leadership, Namibia took its first steps into the light of independence, and those first steps have been left up to us, to ensure that the healing and prosperity he envisioned all those decades ago is realised.
Nujoma continued to serve as a leader even after leaving office.
Long after he left the government, his support of African unification and his
contributions to pan-Africanism remained inspirational. He recognised that
the power of people banding together in the fight for freedom, justice and
equality was what truly liberated Africa, not merely a string of isolated
triumphs.

Politics, at its core, is the contest of ideas, the battle of vision against vision, and in that great theatre, there are opponents you encounter who shape not only the landscape of debate but also the very course of history. Sam Nujoma was such a man – a master tactician, a resolute decision-maker, and a political adversary of the highest order. He was not merely a participant in Namibia’s political journey; he was its architect, its strategist, and its most relentless defender.

It is no secret that we stood on opposite sides of the political aisle. We may
have clashed in debate, but we met on the battlefield of ideas, and he had a knack for testing one’s resolve. Yet, in the midst of our political duels, a
mutual respect was forged. He was an encyclopedia of politics, an unshakable pillar in the annals of our nation’s governance. And as much as he was a tough opponent to crack, he was also a man whose arguments were unparalleled, whose engagements with world leaders spoke of his strategic brilliance, and whose presence demanded attention, even from his fiercest critics.
Sam Nujoma was not just a statesman; he was a teacher. He taught us the value of selflessness and the duty to serve one’s country without expectation of reward.
I still recall a humorous moment that speaks volumes about his nature to take things in good fun and in a lighthearted manner. He once took us to the railway line for voluntary service, Nujoma took his bicycle and left, leaving the boys to finish the railway. I would tell him, “At least, you owe the boers their money, You left with their bicycles.” We laughed, but the lesson was never lost: service to the nation is a duty that transcends politics, and even in jest, the respect he commanded was never in question.
In the great drama of politics, he played his part with unmatched skill. His
strategic mind, his decisiveness, and his ability to manoeuvre through the
complexities of leadership made him a formidable force. He did not shy away from difficult decisions, nor did he falter in the face of adversity.
And while we may have stood on opposite sides of many arguments, one truth remains – Namibia was always at the heart of his every move.
Though we were political adversaries, I came to respect Sam Nujoma not just as a leader, but as a force of history itself. His legacy will endure, not merely in the policies he championed, but in the lessons he imparted – of resilience, of selflessness and of the unyielding pursuit of a better Namibia.

Fellow Namibians,
It is in these moments of grief, that we turn to words of comfort. From 2
Corinthians 1:3-4, we find solace: “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.”
May these words bring peace to those who mourn, especially to Dr Nujoma’s family, knowing that God’s comfort is with them in this time of sorrow.
Our thoughts and prayers especially go out to the children of Dr Nujoma and of course Mee Theopoldine Katjimune Nujoma, who has not only lost a husband, but truly a life partner, having spent almost six decades being his support system. This display of devotion has moved us all.
This nation cannot ever express its gratitude enough, for allowing us the pleasure and honour of sharing the founding father with both his biological children and his figurative children in the image of Namibia and her citizenry.
The winds of history whisper of men who shape the destiny of nations, men whose very breath ignites revolutions, and whose footsteps carve the pathways to freedom.
Sam Nujoma was such a man – a towering figure whose life was a hymn of sacrifice, resilience and undying love for Namibia and Africa.
He stood at the helm when the storms of oppression raged, when the weight of foreign rule pressed heavily upon the shoulders of Namibians. He did not waver. With an unbreakable spirit, he walked the arduous road to
independence, rallying our people with the unshakable belief that Namibia,
too, had a rightful place among free nations.
And so, through struggle and triumph, through pain and perseverance, freedom was won. But freedom, as we know, is not the end – it is merely the foundation. Nujoma has played his part, and now, the responsibility to fulfil our destiny shifts to us.

It is for Namibians, for Africans, for the generations of today and tomorrow, to multiply – to multiply in courage, in vision and in purpose. To fight the new battles that seek to define Africa’s future.
We must stand as one when the powerful of the world attempt to dictate the fate of our sister republics, when sovereign African nations make bold political choices for their people and face unjust retribution.
We must speak in one voice against the exploitation of our continent’s wealth, ensuring that Africa’s minerals serve Africa’s children, and that socio-economic development is not a distant dream, but a present reality.
Nujoma’s death must not mark an end, but a beginning. His legacy must not be left to rest in silence, but must rise in a chorus of African voices, taking up the mantle of justice, dignity and self-reliance. Each of us must find our cause, our purpose, and drive it forward with the same relentless passion he carried until his last breath.
The late Dr Sam Nujoma’s dreams did not leave with him; they remain, they march forward in the hearts of those who dare to believe in a better world.
His hopes – for Namibia, for Africa, for justice – are not mere echoes of the
past, but a rallying cry for all who continue to strive for freedom, unity and
dignity.
His legacy is not confined to the pages of history, nor is it only in the nation he helped to forge; it beats within the soul of every Namibian, every African, and every hand that has ever lifted another in the name of justice.
As we bid this remarkable man farewell, let us not bow our heads in despair but lift our hearts in remembrance of the unbreakable spirit he embodied.
His life stands as irrefutable proof that one man’s vision, courage and love for his people can move mountains, break chains, and alter the course of history.
His passing leaves an emptiness that no words can fill, but his spirit – unyielding, resolute – remains a beacon to light our way.
We honour and celebrate the life and legacy of the great and eternal Sam
Nujoma today, who is truly etched into the annals of history of this great
Republic, not just for the role he played in Namibia’s independence, but for the example he set of unwavering leadership, resilience and love for his people.
As we bid him farewell, we do so with gratitude, knowing that his vision and
his spirit will never fade, instead his legacy will inspire generations to come, who must carry forward the memory and torch of Dr Nujoma, just as he carried us all those years ago. As we move forward, we do so with the
knowledge that his dreams have already begun to take root – deep in the hearts of his people, in the very soul of Namibia, and across the continent.

And for all the challenges we face, we know that the light he kindled will never go out. We must remain ever hopeful for the future, only this time without our fountain of wisdom to guide us.
And so, as we bid farewell to this colossus of Africa, we say: Rest softly unto the bosom of your Creator till the last day of resurrection.
On behalf of the Popular Democratic Movement, myself, my wife Claudina
Venaani, and the rank and file of our movement, we convey our deepest
condolences on the colossal loss of a great statesman of Africa.

May his soul rest in perfect, revolutionary peace!

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