Namibians not only mourning Nujoma, but celebrating his life – Diescho

Namibian writer and political analyst Joseph Diescho says the nation should not only mourn founding president Sam Nujoma, but celebrate his life.

A multitude of mourners gathered to pay tribute to Nujoma and celebrate his life at Rundu Sports Stadium in the Kavango East region on Saturday.

Mourners flocked from different communities in the Kavango East and Kavango West regions to pay their last respects to Nujoma.

Speaking at the event, Diescho said he joins multitudes, both in Namibia and beyond the country’s borders, who are not only mourning the passing of Nujoma, but “celebrating his illustrious life”.

Said Diescho: “He walked ahead of the nation that was not yet born, held the torch which meant that there was a future for this country.

“Not only did the torch illuminate the road ahead, it kept hope alive, it gave the future meaning, and it injected in us courage to think about tomorrow.”

There comes a time when people pause, not to cry and lament, and not to mourn, but to celebrate what Nujoma meant for Namibia and the world, he said.

“The words of one of the most celebrated African American writers said, ‘People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel’,” Diescho quoted Maya Angelou.

He added that people would remember how Nujoma made people feel.

Meanwhile, Mbunza Traditional Authority Hompa Alfeus Kaundu said Nujoma valued tradional leaders.

“Nujoma, whenever he comes to Kavango, he visits us, inquires about community well-being and many other essential services,” Kaundu said.

Kaundu said during Nujoma’s leadership, he always invited all the hompas for independence celebrations, which he said has not happened over the last 10 years.