Vice president Lucia Witbooi’s keynote address at the official handover of Etunda Primary School and Clinic

Etunda Farm, 7 November 2025

The late Sam ‘Shaafiishuna’ Nujoma, whose vision and compassion continue to shape our nation.

Today, we gathered to witness the official handover of the Etunda Farm Primary School and Clinic, which is a monumental gift to the people of Namibia. In this regard, the Etunda Farm Primary School and Clinic were initiated by the founding president on his private farm Etunda near Otavi, named after his birthplace. 

His dream was to uplift the children of farm workers and rural communities through access to education and healthcare. The clinic, operational since 2017, has served the local population and passersby, while the school and hostel were still under construction but near completion. This project was born out of a deep desire to address the needs of the previously disadvantaged.

On behalf of the government of the Republic of Namibia, the Namibian people, and especially the Otjozondjupa region, I extend my heartfelt appreciation to the Nujoma family for this generous donation, close to 16 hectares of land and fully equipped facilities valued at over N$25 million. 

The clinic accommodates 12 staff members including a medical doctor. The school has capacity for 240 pupils, a principal, head of department, six teachers, an administrative officer, and two cleaners. The hostel can house 100 boarders and includes accommodation for four hostel matrons, a chief matron, and four catering matrons.

President Nujoma believed that every child should be educated from kindergarten to university. He was deeply moved by the plight of farm workers and their children, and he took a personal initiative to break the cycle of generational poverty through education. He used his own resources to buy bricks from Combat Mines and mobilised support from Namport, B2Gold, Paragon Investment Holdings, Ohorongo Cement, Swakop Uranium, Cheetah Cement, the Chinese Embassy, and Rani Group, among others.

Let this be a shining example for all farms and corporate entities. We must unite to complete this noble project and uphold the legacy of the father of the Namibian nation. Now that he has departed, it is our collective duty to ensure his dream is realised. The founding president intended to donate this project to the government upon completion. Though he is no longer with us, we must honour his vision and ensure its full realisation.

This project aligns with our national goals to provide healthcare and education to all, especially the marginalised communities, and contributes directly to Vision 2030. It complements our government’s efforts to empower the children of farm labourers and marginalised communities, enabling them to contribute meaningfully to our country’s development.

We call upon all stakeholders to assist in completing the remaining infrastructure: fencing (N$1.7 million), boreholes (N$3 million), and civil, mechanical, and electrical works (N$15 million). The Ministry of Works and Transport and the Ministry of Education, Innovation, Youth, Sport, Arts and Culture must collaborate with all role players to ensure the school opens its doors fully in 2026. This should be a national priority.

Vision 2030 aims to transform Namibia into a healthy, food-secure nation with high living standards and access to quality services. This project is a direct contribution to that vision. The inclusion of a clinic alongside the school reflects a holistic approach. Since 2017, the clinic has served the community, with many children born there, a true symbol of life and hope.

Similarly, Vision 2030 emphasises partnerships as essential for sustainable development. This project is a model of such collaboration. We must foster partnerships between government, civil society, private sector, and international allies. This is how we build a resilient and inclusive Namibia.

As the founding president reminded us: “A people united, striving to achieve a common good for all members of the society, will always emerge victorious.” Education is a shared responsibility. It is the key to opportunity, the greatest equalizer, and as the African proverb says, “It takes a village to raise a child.”

Let us remember the words of Nelson Mandela: “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.” And of Kofi Annan: “Knowledge is power. Information is liberating. Education is the foundation of progress.” 

These words echo the values that guided the founding president’s actions.

Against this background, I urge all stakeholders – government, private sector, non-governmental organisations, and communities – to rally behind this initiative and ensure its completion and sustainability. This facility will empower hundreds of children, giving them a chance to dream, learn, and contribute meaningfully to our society.

Good health is the greatest wealth a nation can possess. Without a healthy population, no country can achieve its full potential. The first president of Namibia understood this deeply, that is why he ensured that the Etunda Farm Primary School and Clinic project included not only a school but also a health clinic. A healthy child is a learning child, and a healthy community is a productive community. We must continue to invest in healthcare infrastructure and services, especially in rural areas, to ensure that no Namibian is left behind.

In the same spirit, we must promote healthy lifestyles to defeat the rise of lifestyle diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, and heart disease. These conditions are preventable through education, proper nutrition, physical activity, and regular medical check-ups. Etunda Clinic is not just a place for treatment – it must become a centre for health education and wellness promotion. Let us encourage our people to adopt habits that support long and vibrant lives.

Nujoma repeatedly called upon Namibians to plant trees and produce food. He believed that food security begins at home, in our gardens and fields. This project must also serve as a model for integrating agriculture into education. Let the pupils of Etunda Primary School grow their own vegetables, plant fruit trees, and learn the value of self-reliance and environmental stewardship. In doing so, we honour his call and build resilience against hunger and climate change. We are going to plant some trees today, to celebrate his legacy.

This project reminds the nation that we must unite to pave the way for sustainable development. The example set by the founding father is one of selflessness, vision, and action. He did not wait for others to act; he led by doing. Let us emulate his example by working together across sectors and regions, putting aside differences, and focusing on what unites us: the desire to build a better Namibia for all.

In conclusion, let us remember the powerful words of our founding president, Sam Nujoma: “Educate your children, for they are the future leaders of this country.” 

“A nation that does not invest in the education of its youth is a nation that has no future.” 

“Let us build schools, not prisons; let us build clinics, not battlefields.”

May these words guide us as we move forward with purpose, unity, and determination to complete this noble project and continue building the Namibia he dreamed of. Let us honour the legacy of Nujoma not just with words, but with action. Let us build, support, and sustain what he has started.

Lastly, I thank the Nujoma family, the Sam Nujoma Foundation, and all cooperating partners. May this project stand as a beacon of hope, unity, and progress for generations to come.

I thank you.

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