Leaders from SADC gathered in Windhoek to pay homage to Namibia’s founding president, Sam Nujoma, at his funeral. Esteemed dignitaries, including Cyril Ramaphosa and Emmerson Mnangagwa, emphasized Nujoma’s profound contributions to justice and liberation. His exemplary leadership and commitment to his people were celebrated, marking a significant loss for Namibia and the southern African region.
Leaders from the Southern African Development Community (SADC) convened to honor Namibia’s founding president, Sam Nujoma, who was interred at Heroes’ Acre in Windhoek with full state honors. This gathering included significant figures such as South African President Cyril Ramaphosa and Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa, among others, who attended the funeral service to pay their respects.
President Mnangagwa remarked at the memorial service that Nujoma’s passing represents a tremendous loss not solely for Namibia but for the entire southern African region. He stated, “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.”
Angolan President João Lourenço labeled Nujoma as an exemplary leader who ardently defended the rights of his people. He portrayed Namibia’s inaugural president as “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 the Prime Ministers of Lesotho and Eswatini, Ntsokoane Matekane and Russell Dlamini, respectively. Former leaders such as Ian Khama of Botswana, Thabo Mbeki of South Africa, and Joseph Kabila of the Democratic Republic of Congo also attended, with Nigeria, Ghana, and Tanzania represented by their vice presidents.
Former Zimbabwean First Lady Grace Mugabe reflected on the close bond between her late husband, Robert Mugabe, and Nujoma, recalling their conversations during the independence struggle. She remarked, “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 renowned as the last of the revolutionary leaders who succeeded in achieving independence for their nations in southern Africa. Furthermore, he was the last surviving founder of the Organization of African Unity established in 1963, which later evolved into the African Union.
The recent funeral of Sam Nujoma, attended by numerous leaders from the Southern African Development Community, highlighted his significant legacy in the region. His contributions to justice and liberation for the Namibian people were acknowledged by his contemporaries, solidifying his status as a pivotal figure in African history. The attendance of various dignitaries underscores the profound impact Nujoma had, not just in Namibia, but throughout southern Africa.
Original Source: allafrica.com
