Former minister Ben Amathila says his long-time friend, former president Hifikepunye Pohamba, is easy to work with and is a man of the people.
The former minister of information and communication technology was speaking at the launch of Pohamba’s biography in Windhoek yesterday.
The biography is titled ‘The Footprints of Hifikepunye Pohamba – Ondjila Eyi A Enda’, and was written by Ellen Namhila.
It narrates the life of Namibia’s second president and his contribution to the country’s independence.
“President Pohamba has an element of solidarity in decision-making. It’s reflected in the work he has done,” Amathila said.
The two men have been friends for over 60 years.
Amathila said the book was written especially for young Namibians.
“The born frees have the right to complain about how they experience Namibia today, but they have the right to know how we got our independence,” he said.
Amathila said Namibia’s history is often presented to fit a certain audience.
“This book was never written to bring pleasure to old men like myself and Pohamba. “It was also not written for historians to write more history about Pohamba and Namibia’s history, although I’m sure historians will find it useful to add more detail to what they already know,” he said.
Amathila said the book would help educate pupils.
“Our young people are not locked up for speaking out against oppression,” he said.
The chairperson of the board of trustees at the Hifikepunye Pohamba Foundation, Kalumbi Shangula, said the proceeds from the sale of the book would go to the foundation.
“This means many more young people will be able to realise their dreams at tertiary level.
They will be taken out of poverty, and many Namibians will have food security by the contribution of beneficiaries,” he said.
The foundation provides financial assistance to the needy and has assisted 17 students at tertiary institutions in different fields of study.
Shangula said 12 of the assisted students have completed their studies.
He has appealed for financial support to assist more Namibians to contribute to food sustainability.
At the launch, Pohamba acknowledged the contributions of Namibia’s founding president Sam Nujoma to his life achievements.
“I would like to express my gratitude to my colleague, the founding president and father of the Namibian nation, Sam Nujoma, with whom I have shared many trials and tribulations, as you will discover while reading the book.”
Pohamba said their journey through the liberation struggle and post-independence challenges was one of shared endurance.
“It is perhaps no surprise that I was entrusted with the immense responsibility of filling his shoes, succeeding him as the second president of our nation. This role has been deeply challenging,” he said.
Pohamba served as the second president of Namibia from 2005 to 2015.
He has also served in many ministerial positions since 1990 and in many Swapo portfolios.
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