Zambezi governor Lawrence Sampofu has described late founding president Sam Nujoma as a true pan-Africanist who never wavered, but stood for the self-determination of his beloved motherland.
Sampofu, who is also a war veteran, said on Tuesday he met Nujoma in exile in December 1975, at Swapo’s Shatotwa camp in western Zambia.
“You could see his composure, bravery and vision in the way he spoke to us – the way he encouraged us as soldiers to work hard and to fight hard so that we could gain our independence. He really united us,” he shared.
Nujoma, he said, fought against the trbal groupings imposed by colonial enemes to prevent Namibians from becoming a united front.
“He united his people, lobbied for weapons and ensured that those who were in exile were taken care of without any tribal connotation,” Sampofu noted.
He further said Nujoma’s legacy will live on through his memorable quotes, including ‘One Namibia, One Nation’, and ‘A people united, striving to achieve common good for all members of society, will emerge victorious’.
The governor also stated that while in exile and after independence in 1990, Nujoma instilled peace, reconciliation and unity in Namibians.
“We mourn an icon of Namibian history, an African hero who was honoured by the Namibian people as Founding Father of the Nation. May your soul continue to rest in eternal peace,” said Sampofu.
Nujoma died at the age of 95 on Saturday.
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