Sam Nujoma, Namibia’s founding president, was commemorated in a funeral attended by regional leaders. He received a hero’s burial at Heroes’ Acre in Windhoek, where notable figures, including Cyril Ramaphosa and Emmerson Mnangagwa, recognized his contributions to independence and justice in Southern Africa. Former leaders and dignitaries reflected on Nujoma’s legacy and impact on the liberation struggle of the region.
Leaders from the Southern African Development Community (Sadc) gathered to honor Namibia’s founding president, Sam Nujoma, during his funeral held in Windhoek. Nujoma, an esteemed revolutionary leader, was interred with full honors at Heroes’ Acre, emphasizing his significance in Namibia’s history.
On Saturday morning, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa joined fellow leaders at the service, including Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa and Angolan President João Lourenço. Both presidents previously participated in a state memorial service at Independence Stadium, underscoring the importance of Nujoma’s legacy across the region.
During the memorial, Mnangagwa, also the chairperson of Sadc, expressed that Nujoma’s passing represents a considerable loss for not only Namibia but for the entire Southern African region. He remarked, “His selfless efforts and unwavering commitment to justice, equality and freedom for his people and all of mankind will remain etched in our collective memory for posterity.”
Additionally, Lourenço praised Nujoma as an exemplary leader who fought diligently for his people’s rights, calling him “an outstanding figure in African contemporary history, a hero of the Namibian people, and a symbol of the unbreakable fight for the liberation of southern Africa.”
Other dignitaries at the event included Lesotho Prime Minister Ntsokoane Matekane, Eswatini Prime Minister Russell Dlamini, former leaders from Botswana, South Africa, and the Democratic Republic of Congo, alongside representatives from Nigeria, Ghana, and Tanzania, as well as Finland’s former president Tarja Halonen.
Former Zimbabwean First Lady Grace Mugabe reflected on the bond shared between her late husband, Robert Mugabe, and Nujoma, recalling, “I knew president Nujoma even before he was president. When he was still fighting for the independence of the country, he used to visit my husband a lot…”.
Nujoma was the last of the revolutionary leaders who successfully led their countries to independence in Southern Africa and was a founding father of the Organisation of African Unity, which later transformed into the African Union in 2002.
The funeral of Sam Nujoma brought together a significant number of leaders from across Southern Africa, highlighting his monumental impact on the region’s history. Not only was Nujoma a leading figure in Namibia’s liberation, but he also contributed to wider Pan-African efforts for freedom and equality. His legacy, as encapsulated in the words of his contemporaries, will resonate well beyond his lifetime.
Original Source: allafrica.com
