Nandi-Ndaitwah pays homage to Nujoma, calls for national unity

WINDHOEK, 28 FEB (NAMPA) - Vice President and President-elect, Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah has said the passing of Founding President Sam Nujoma has bestowed on Namibia a huge political and moral obligation to continue to hold high the banner of national unity and cohesion.
Netumbo, speaking at the State memorial service held for Nujoma in Windhoek on Friday, said Namibia now faces the daunting task of ensuring that the ideals of freedom, solidarity, and justice are kept alive.
“We must remain faithful to those ideals. We must not betray what Comrade Founding President and those of his generation who departed before him, had achieved. Let us relentlessly defend our freedom and independence, and ensure prosperity in Namibia,” Netumbo told mourners.
She said as a nation, Namibia must develop clear strategies to bring about economic independence as that is what Nujoma stood for.
Nandi-Ndaitwah described Nujoma as a man with a natural sense of authority and a strong character.
“That is why he successfully led the liberation struggle, particularly when the situation called for tough decisions. He was, without a doubt, one of the leaders whose high ideals and moral integrity inspired thousands of people in Namibia and around the globe,” she said.
Nujoma, she added, was one of the founders of modern Africa, and a firm believer in African unity.
Nujoma was present at the founding summit of the Organisation of African Unity on 25 May 1963, in Ethiopia. Other prominent leaders present were Agostinho Neto from Angola, Oliver Tambo from South Africa, Eduardo Mondlane from Mozambique and Amilcar Cabral from Guinea Bissau and Cape Verde.
At the founding summit, Nandi-Ndaitwah said, Nujoma networked with other African leaders, including Kwame Nkrumah and Julius Nyerere.
“His departure signals an end of the era of the founding fathers of Africa as he was the only living leader who was present at the formation of the Organisation of African Unity, the forerunner of the African Union,” the vice president said.
She noted that under the leadership of the late Nujoma, the Swapo party concurrently formulated and implemented three-pronged strategies during the liberation struggle, namely mass political mobilisation at home, coordinated diplomatic campaigns abroad, and the intensification of the armed struggle.
Nujoma will be laid to rest at Heroes Acre on Saturday.
(NAMPA)
EB/EK/AS