Nujoma: Mourning Africa's last surviving founding president
A life dedicated to fighting for Namibia
The world is mourning one of Africa's foremost revolutionaries, who dedicated the lion's share of his life to the total liberation of Namibia and the continent.
At exactly 23:45 on a cloudy Saturday – 8 February – Namibia’s founding president, Sam Nujoma, took his final breath, leaving behind a nation to which he had selflessly dedicated his life. He was 95 years old.
Since his admission to a private hospital in Windhoek over a week ago, Namibians had anxiously awaited updates on his condition, which his family had candidly described as ‘critical’ for days.
Nujoma was Africa’s last surviving founding president.
While his passing marks one of the saddest moments in post-independence Namibia, many also see it as an opportunity to celebrate a life devoted to the fight for freedom and self-determination of the Namibian people.
The journey to liberation
At the age of 30, already a married man with children, Nujoma left Namibia in December 1959, escaping via Botswana with the help of Ovaherero chief Hosea Kutako before making his way to Tanganyika (present-day Tanzania).
He would spend the next 30 years abroad, leading the fight for a free Namibia – where all people could have equal rights and opportunities. In 1960, months after going into exile, Nujoma was elected as Swapo’s first president in absentia.
From abroad, he played a central role in organising the diplomatic, political and military resistance against South Africa's apartheid regime. He returned to Namibia in September 1989, during the tense transition period leading to the country’s first democratic elections – held under the supervision of the United Nations.
When Swapo won the 1989 elections with 57% of the vote and secured 41 out of 78 parliamentary seats, Nujoma became Namibia’s first president – a position he held for 15 years, up to 2005. He remained Swapo's president until 2007, when he stepped down at the party’s congress.
A legacy of leadership
Beyond leading Namibia’s armed struggle, Nujoma’s post-independence leadership will be remembered for several key policies. His declaration of national reconciliation upon independence helped prevent revenge attacks and reprisals between those who had fought during the brutal 23-year war (1966–1989).
Unlike his Zimbabwean counterpart, Robert Mugabe, who pursued controversial land seizures, Nujoma adopted a willing-buyer, willing-seller approach to land reform – an issue that remains unresolved to this day, after three more presidents and a fourth set to take office next month.
Despite being known for his strong personality and often radical stance, which led critics to accuse him of autocratic tendencies, Nujoma oversaw the emergence of one of Africa’s most stable democracies – a significant achievement for a nation emerging from a drawn-out war.
His inclusive leadership was evident in his first Cabinet, which featured a balanced ethnic and racial mix. When some demanded that only Black Namibians be appointed to high office, Nujoma insisted on inclusivity, appointing Otto Herrigel as his first finance minister, Hartmut Ruppel as attorney general, Gert Hanekom as finance minister (after Herrigel resigned in 1992) and Anton von Wietersheim as agriculture minister.
Some of his ministers were under 40, including Marco Hausiku (36), Pendukeni Iivula-Ithana (37) and Von Wietersheim (38). At 65, Andimba Toivo ya Toivo was the oldest Cabinet member, serving as minister of mines and energy.
Criticism and controversies
The Namibia Media Trust (NMT), which owns The Namibian newspaper, described Nujoma’s legacy as "marked by complexities."
His decision to ban government advertising in The Namibian during the 1990s was widely criticised as an attack on media freedom. "This action serves as a reminder of the fragility of the freedoms we now cherish and the ongoing struggle to preserve those rights," the trust said in a statement.
The Editors' Forum of Namibia (EFN) also paid tribute, saying: "The Founding Father should be remembered for proclaiming the policy of national reconciliation, which fostered harmony among Namibians. He not only believed in building a unified nation while respecting its diversity, but he also ensured that Namibia honoured democracy and the rule of law."
Tributes pour in
President Nangolo Mbumba led tributes yesterday, saying: "Our Founding Father heroically marshalled the Namibian people through the darkest hours of our liberation struggle until the attainment of freedom and independence on 21 March 1990."
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa also shared a message in honour of Nujoma.
"Dr Sam Nujoma was an extraordinary freedom fighter who divided his revolutionary programme between Namibia’s struggle against South African colonialism and the fight to liberate South Africa from apartheid."
Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu said she was "saddened" by Nujoma's death.
"A freedom fighter, a Pan-Africanist, and a dear friend of Tanzania, where he once lived during the struggle for Namibia's independence, Dr Nujoma lived a life of service that shaped not only his country’s destiny but also inspired generations to stand up for the ideals of freedom, equality, and justice," she wrote on X.
Nujoma's passing marks the end of an era, but his legacy of courage, leadership and nation-building will remain deeply ingrained in Namibia’s history.
Since his admission to a private hospital in Windhoek over a week ago, Namibians had anxiously awaited updates on his condition, which his family had candidly described as ‘critical’ for days.
Nujoma was Africa’s last surviving founding president.
While his passing marks one of the saddest moments in post-independence Namibia, many also see it as an opportunity to celebrate a life devoted to the fight for freedom and self-determination of the Namibian people.
The journey to liberation
At the age of 30, already a married man with children, Nujoma left Namibia in December 1959, escaping via Botswana with the help of Ovaherero chief Hosea Kutako before making his way to Tanganyika (present-day Tanzania).
He would spend the next 30 years abroad, leading the fight for a free Namibia – where all people could have equal rights and opportunities. In 1960, months after going into exile, Nujoma was elected as Swapo’s first president in absentia.
From abroad, he played a central role in organising the diplomatic, political and military resistance against South Africa's apartheid regime. He returned to Namibia in September 1989, during the tense transition period leading to the country’s first democratic elections – held under the supervision of the United Nations.
When Swapo won the 1989 elections with 57% of the vote and secured 41 out of 78 parliamentary seats, Nujoma became Namibia’s first president – a position he held for 15 years, up to 2005. He remained Swapo's president until 2007, when he stepped down at the party’s congress.
A legacy of leadership
Beyond leading Namibia’s armed struggle, Nujoma’s post-independence leadership will be remembered for several key policies. His declaration of national reconciliation upon independence helped prevent revenge attacks and reprisals between those who had fought during the brutal 23-year war (1966–1989).
Unlike his Zimbabwean counterpart, Robert Mugabe, who pursued controversial land seizures, Nujoma adopted a willing-buyer, willing-seller approach to land reform – an issue that remains unresolved to this day, after three more presidents and a fourth set to take office next month.
Despite being known for his strong personality and often radical stance, which led critics to accuse him of autocratic tendencies, Nujoma oversaw the emergence of one of Africa’s most stable democracies – a significant achievement for a nation emerging from a drawn-out war.
His inclusive leadership was evident in his first Cabinet, which featured a balanced ethnic and racial mix. When some demanded that only Black Namibians be appointed to high office, Nujoma insisted on inclusivity, appointing Otto Herrigel as his first finance minister, Hartmut Ruppel as attorney general, Gert Hanekom as finance minister (after Herrigel resigned in 1992) and Anton von Wietersheim as agriculture minister.
Some of his ministers were under 40, including Marco Hausiku (36), Pendukeni Iivula-Ithana (37) and Von Wietersheim (38). At 65, Andimba Toivo ya Toivo was the oldest Cabinet member, serving as minister of mines and energy.
Criticism and controversies
The Namibia Media Trust (NMT), which owns The Namibian newspaper, described Nujoma’s legacy as "marked by complexities."
His decision to ban government advertising in The Namibian during the 1990s was widely criticised as an attack on media freedom. "This action serves as a reminder of the fragility of the freedoms we now cherish and the ongoing struggle to preserve those rights," the trust said in a statement.
The Editors' Forum of Namibia (EFN) also paid tribute, saying: "The Founding Father should be remembered for proclaiming the policy of national reconciliation, which fostered harmony among Namibians. He not only believed in building a unified nation while respecting its diversity, but he also ensured that Namibia honoured democracy and the rule of law."
Tributes pour in
President Nangolo Mbumba led tributes yesterday, saying: "Our Founding Father heroically marshalled the Namibian people through the darkest hours of our liberation struggle until the attainment of freedom and independence on 21 March 1990."
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa also shared a message in honour of Nujoma.
"Dr Sam Nujoma was an extraordinary freedom fighter who divided his revolutionary programme between Namibia’s struggle against South African colonialism and the fight to liberate South Africa from apartheid."
Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu said she was "saddened" by Nujoma's death.
"A freedom fighter, a Pan-Africanist, and a dear friend of Tanzania, where he once lived during the struggle for Namibia's independence, Dr Nujoma lived a life of service that shaped not only his country’s destiny but also inspired generations to stand up for the ideals of freedom, equality, and justice," she wrote on X.
Nujoma's passing marks the end of an era, but his legacy of courage, leadership and nation-building will remain deeply ingrained in Namibia’s history.
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