Namibia is commemorating the life and legacy of Founding President Dr. Sam Shafiishuna Nujoma on 12th May, with President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah celebrating the liberation icon whose leadership significantly influenced the country's independence and democratic foundations.

In a message marking what would have been Nujoma’s 97th birthday, Nandi-Ndaitwah reflected on the journey of a young cattle herder from Etunda village in Ongandjera who rose to become one of Africa’s most respected liberation leaders and a symbol of Pan-Africanism.

“Dr. Nujoma’s story was never merely about personal triumph. It was about the triumph of a people who refused to surrender their dignity, identity, and right to self-determination,” she said.

The President traced Nujoma’s political awakening to his early years in Walvis Bay, where encounters with workers and ordinary Namibians exposed him to the realities of colonial oppression and ignited his determination to fight for freedom.

Through years of exile, sacrifice, and uncertainty, Nujoma carried Namibia’s liberation struggle onto the international stage, taking the country’s cause to the United Nations and rallying global support for independence.

“At a time when many doubted whether freedom would ever come, he remained resolute, guided by an unshakeable belief in the power of unity,” said Nandi-Ndaitwah.

She recalled one of Nujoma’s enduring messages: “A people united, striving to achieve a common good for all members of society, will always emerge victorious.”

These words became a guiding philosophy for both the liberation movement and the newly independent nation.

President Nandi-Ndaitwah said that under Nujoma’s leadership, Namibia built the foundations for peace, reconciliation, democracy and national unity after gaining independence in 1990.

“He understood that true freedom had to be accompanied by dignity, opportunity, and the empowerment of future generations,” she said.

Dr. Nandi-Ndaitwah further celebrated the late Nujoma's influence as still being visible in modern Namibia, from its democratic institutions to the resilience and aspirations of its people.

“As a nation, we remain forever indebted to his courage, his vision, and his unwavering love for Namibia and Africa,” she said.