Kovambo Nujoma, the widow of the late founding president Sam Nujoma, has described her husband as an unassuming man who always prioritized Namibia's greater good. During the national memorial service for the founding president at Windhoek's Independence Stadium on Friday, a speech was read on Kovambo's behalf. In it, she mentioned that Nujoma's simplicity was clear from how he managed government affairs from a small study at their home.
She recounted meeting her husband in Walvis Bay during the 1950s when racial segregation was rampant. Despite the divisive environment, they discovered love. Their love surpassed the obstacles of tribal segregation and withstood the challenges of colonial oppression and divide-and-rule policies. They wed on May 6, 1956, united not just by their love but also by a common goal for a liberated and sovereign Namibia.
She pointed out that besides her husband's exile, her family endured hardships as South African security forces constantly raided their home and placed it under surveillance. However, even in his absence, her husband's love surrounded them. When the harassment became intolerable, she made the difficult choice to join Nujoma in exile in Zambia in 1978, describing the reunion as a moment of immense happiness and the realization that love persisted despite war and hardship.
They returned to Namibia in 1989, and on March 21, 1990, she experienced the joy of standing beside him as Namibia gained independence. It was the fulfillment of her husband's dream, a vision he clung to through years of sacrifice and suffering. At home, despite a busy schedule, Nujoma remained a devoted husband, loving father, and fierce protector of his family, always making them a priority. His presence was a constant source of strength, whether through his wise counsel or simply by his reassuring simplicity. Her husband led a disciplined and structured life yet was always gentle, generous, and thoughtful.
She recounted meeting her husband in Walvis Bay during the 1950s when racial segregation was rampant. Despite the divisive environment, they discovered love. Their love surpassed the obstacles of tribal segregation and withstood the challenges of colonial oppression and divide-and-rule policies. They wed on May 6, 1956, united not just by their love but also by a common goal for a liberated and sovereign Namibia.
She pointed out that besides her husband's exile, her family endured hardships as South African security forces constantly raided their home and placed it under surveillance. However, even in his absence, her husband's love surrounded them. When the harassment became intolerable, she made the difficult choice to join Nujoma in exile in Zambia in 1978, describing the reunion as a moment of immense happiness and the realization that love persisted despite war and hardship.
They returned to Namibia in 1989, and on March 21, 1990, she experienced the joy of standing beside him as Namibia gained independence. It was the fulfillment of her husband's dream, a vision he clung to through years of sacrifice and suffering. At home, despite a busy schedule, Nujoma remained a devoted husband, loving father, and fierce protector of his family, always making them a priority. His presence was a constant source of strength, whether through his wise counsel or simply by his reassuring simplicity. Her husband led a disciplined and structured life yet was always gentle, generous, and thoughtful.
