Sam Nujoma, the first president of the country of Namibia, died on Saturday night at the age of 95 years.
Nujoma’s demise was announced by current Namibian President Nangolo Mbumba in a statement on Sunday.
According to President Mbumba, “The foundations of the Republic of Namibia have been shaken,” referring to Nujoma as “the most gallant son of our land,” but could not recover from his illness that took his life on Saturday.
As many world leaders begin to commiserate with the Federal Republic of Namibia over the demise of the man highly revered as the “Father of the Nation”, Tribune Online takes a look at key things to know about Sam Nujoma.
Here are ten things to know about Sam Nujoma:
1. Early Life
Sam Nujoma was born on May 12, 1929, at Etunda, a village in Ongandjera, near the town of Okahao, Ovamboland. At that time, Ovamboland was a part of South West Africa, a territory controlled by South Africa.
When he was young, Nujoma looked after the family’s cattle and goats. He left school at the age of 16 and then took a job in the dining car of a train. Nujoma tried to establish a union for rail workers, but the railway company fired him and later worked as a clerk and a shop assistant.
2. Formation of SWAPO
In the late 1950s, Nujoma helped to establish the Ovamboland People’s Organization. It was a liberation movement that wanted to end South African rule. In 1960, Nujoma was forced to leave the country and in the same year, the Ovamboland People’s Organization became the South West Africa People’s Organization (SWAPO). Nujoma became the president of SWAPO.
SWAPO asked the United Nations to give Namibia its independence. When this did not happen, SWAPO began an armed struggle against the South African government. In 1973, the General Assembly of the United Nations said that SWAPO was the only true representative of the Namibian people. In 1988, South Africa finally accepted Namibia’s right to become independent.
3. Namibia’s First President
In 1989, Nujoma returned to Namibia for the first time in almost 30 years and led SWAPO to victory in Namibia’s first democratic election. The country became independent in 1990 with Nujoma as its president.
Nujoma was elected again as president of Namibia in 1994 and 1999. He retired from the presidency in 2005. He remained president of SWAPO until 2007.
4. Full Name and Religion
The Namibia freedom leader and father of the Nation, now known popularly as Sam Nujumo, was born as Samuel Shafiishuna Daniel Nujom and he was a Lutheran — who believed humans are saved from their sins by God’s grace alone (Sola Gratia), through faith alone (Sola Fide), on the basis of Scripture alone (Sola Scriptura).
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5. Background
Sam Nujomo was born to Helvi Mpingana Kondombolo (1898–2008) and Daniel Uutoni Nujoma (1893–1968) at Etunda, a village in Ongandjera, near the town of Okahao, Ovamboland.
6. Nujoma’s Political Party
Nujomo’s party SWAPO, started as a liberation movement named Ovamboland People’s Organization. It was on this platform that Nujomo became Namibia’s first president
7. 15-year Presidential Term
Did we remember to mention that Nujoma ruled for 15 years? Yes, he was elected the country’s first President on 21 March 1990. He was re-elected for two more terms in 1994 and 1999. And he served from 1990 to 2005.
8. The Founding Father’s Title
After his retirement as the head of state, the National Assembly awarded Nujoma the title “Founding Father of the Namibian Nation”. SWAPO, his party, also named him “Leader of the Namibian Revolution”.
9. Nujoma’s Family
Nujoma married Kovambo Theopoldine Katjimune on 6 May 1956. The couple had three sons and one daughter: Utoni Daniel (born 1952), John Ndeshipanda (1955–1993), Sakaria “Zacky” Nujoma (born 1957), and Nelago Nujoma, born 1959 and died at 18 months while Nujoma was in exile.
After two decades of marriage, his wife joined him abroad. Nujoma’s first-born son, Utoni, is a high-ranking politician and member of SWAPO who is both a member of the Cabinet and National Assembly of Namibia. His youngest son, Zacky, is a geologist by profession who has an interest in business and mining.
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