Ya Nangoloh hurls parting shot at Nujoma

In a no-holds-barred tribute to the late founding president Sam Nujoma, NamRights boss Phil Ya Nangoloh – a fierce critic of Nujoma for decades – accused the statesman of overseeing killings, torture and imprisonment of innocent citizens.

Liberation icon Nujoma died on Saturday at the age of 95.

While recognising Nujoma's contribution towards the liberation of Namibia, Ya Nangoloh described the late leader as a divisive man who did not tolerate dissent.

“As a human rights practitioner and civil society actor, I remember and experienced Nujoma as an autocratic and, in many respects, a highly divisive father figure who did not tolerate or brook real or perceived disagreement, different points of view or opposition, let alone criticism,” Ya Nangolo said.

“The late Nujoma must also be remembered as a leader who had overseen very serious abuses of human rights, including killings, torture, imprisonment without trial and disappearances without trace of hundreds, if not thousands, of especially Swapo members in exile in Angola and Zambia," he said.

During the war for the liberation of Namibia, Swapo operated the so-called ‘Lubango dungeons’ where killings and torture of suspected spies of the South African apartheid regime allegedly occurred.

Ya Nangoloh alleged that Nujoma had rejected calls for the establishment of a national truth and reconciliation process to address accusations of grave human rights abuses committed during the struggle for Namibian independence – both by apartheid South Africa and by Swapo under Nujoma's leadership in exile.

Nujoma declared a policy of national reconciliation at independence, ensuring no revenge attacks from either side occurred in post-independence Namibia.

Addressing the legacy

Ya Nangoloh also indicated that during the Nujoma era, issues of inequality, poverty and other social ills were not addressed.

He said Namibia, with abundant natural resources, remains a country where foreigners live better from the land's resources than locals. Nujoma's 15 years as president of Namibia ended 20 years ago in 2005.

“While having done a very commendable job of having done away with apartheid and racial segregation in education and other public amenities, the government, under Nujoma’s leadership, had failed to address gross socio-economic inequalities and inequities, including abject poverty, hunger, disease, homelessness, landlessness and numerous other socio-economic ills in Namibia,” Ya Nangolo said.

“Namibia's vast natural resources remain largely in the hands of foreigners with little or no benefits at all for the vast majority of Namibians.”

He further alleged that Nujoma’s autocratic leadership style birthed a culture of entitlement, lack of transparency and accountability, as well as widespread corruption within the public service.

“It would be very difficult, if at all possible, to address such a culture without addressing this particular aspect of Nujoma's legacy,” Ya Nangolo concluded.

His views sharply differ from those shared by many Namibians and foreign personalities since Nujoma's death.

The Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) said Nujoma was key in laying the foundation for a robust civil society, a free press and open and informed debate, which were vital for Namibia’s economic and social progress. "We are deeply thankful for the foundational steps taken during President Nujoma’s time in office to espouse an inclusive Namibian identity in order to heal deeply entrenched societal divisions, establish Namibia’s strong democratic institutions and uphold constitutionality," IPPR said in a statement.