Namibia’s First President and Freedom Fighter, Sam Nujoma, Dies at 95
Sam Nujoma, the man who led Namibia to freedom from apartheid South Africa and became its first president, passed away at 95 on Saturday. According to the Namibian Presidency, Nujoma had been in the hospital for three weeks but could not recover from his illness.
Nujoma was a key figure in Namibia’s fight for independence. He started as an activist and later became a guerrilla leader. After Namibia gained independence in 1990, he was elected as the country’s first president. In 2005, Namibia’s parliament honored him as the “Founding Father of the Namibian Nation.”
However, his legacy is mixed. While many praised him for leading Namibia to freedom, others criticized him for being harsh on the media, opposing homosexuality, and changing the constitution to allow himself a third term as president. He was also a close ally of Zimbabwe’s Robert Mugabe, supporting Mugabe’s controversial land seizures from white farmers.
The Namibian Presidency shared on social media that Nujoma’s death has shaken the nation. They called him a “venerable leader” who inspired Namibians to take control of their land and future.
South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa also paid tribute, saying Nujoma’s leadership helped build a strong relationship between Namibia and South Africa. Ramaphosa described Nujoma as a brave freedom fighter who fought not only for Namibia but also for South Africa’s liberation from apartheid.
The African Union’s leader, Moussa Faki Mahamat, called Nujoma one of Africa’s greatest revolutionary leaders and a symbol of courage.
Nujoma served as president for three terms, from 1990 to 2005. During his time in office, he focused on uniting the country after years of apartheid and colonial rule. His party, SWAPO, promoted national reconciliation under the slogan “One Namibia, One Nation.”
Despite his achievements, Nujoma’s leadership had flaws. He was often criticized for being too controlling, especially in how he dealt with the media and how he handled a rebellion in 1999.
Nujoma was born in 1929 in a small village in northwestern Namibia. At the time, Namibia was under South African control after decades of harsh German rule. As a young man, he worked on the railways but left his job to fight against apartheid.
In the late 1950s, he became a leader in the fight against forced relocations of Black people in Namibia’s capital, Windhoek. After being arrested, he went into exile in 1960 and traveled across Africa and the United States, where he asked the United Nations to support Namibia’s independence.
While in exile, Nujoma became the leader of SWAPO and started its armed wing. In 1966, he launched a guerrilla war against South Africa’s apartheid government. After years of fighting and international pressure, Namibia finally held elections in 1989, which SWAPO won. Nujoma became president in March 1990.
Nujoma’s life was dedicated to fighting for freedom and equality. While his legacy is complex, he will always be remembered as a key figure in Namibia’s history.
This story is based on reporting by Reuters.