Former South Africa president Thabo Mbeki said that Sam Nujoma was a leader for all of Africa, not just Namibia.
Mbeki talked at a special meeting in Pretoria on Wednesday. The Namibia High Commission and the University of South Africa planned this meeting to remember Nujoma.
"He led people from across Africa. We came together today to honor someone who helped our continent greatly. Uncle Sam led us as well as the Namibian people," Mbeki said.
He asked everyone in Africa to remember what Nujoma believed in by doing good things that help African people.
Mbeki described Nujoma as someone who stood up for what he believed in and protected Africa against countries that tried to control it. People should celebrate his life because he did many important things.
"As we say goodbye to Uncle Sam, I want you to know something important. This part of Africa fought hard when other countries tried to rule it from 1945 to 1960. Nujoma helped fight against those rulers," Mbeki explained.
He said many African countries became free in the early 1960s, but the southern part of Africa had to wait 20 more years for freedom. People kept fighting the unfair rulers the entire time.
"We must ask where all our leaders are. Those of us who live must continue what our leaders started. We must promise to do right by our people and help stop hunger," he said.
Mbeki said African leaders needed strength and bravery to beat clever enemies. He wants all Africans to act this way.
He talked about when the United Nations made a plan in 1978 to free Namibia. Many people worried this plan would cause problems with talks. The United Nations had many Western countries that once ruled other places, but the plan worked, and Namibia became free to rule itself.
Mbeki first met Nujoma in the early 1970s in Lusaka, Zambia. He said Nujoma did not just lead his political party. He also helped fight against unfair treatment across southern Africa.
Mbeki talked at a special meeting in Pretoria on Wednesday. The Namibia High Commission and the University of South Africa planned this meeting to remember Nujoma.
"He led people from across Africa. We came together today to honor someone who helped our continent greatly. Uncle Sam led us as well as the Namibian people," Mbeki said.
He asked everyone in Africa to remember what Nujoma believed in by doing good things that help African people.
Mbeki described Nujoma as someone who stood up for what he believed in and protected Africa against countries that tried to control it. People should celebrate his life because he did many important things.
"As we say goodbye to Uncle Sam, I want you to know something important. This part of Africa fought hard when other countries tried to rule it from 1945 to 1960. Nujoma helped fight against those rulers," Mbeki explained.
He said many African countries became free in the early 1960s, but the southern part of Africa had to wait 20 more years for freedom. People kept fighting the unfair rulers the entire time.
"We must ask where all our leaders are. Those of us who live must continue what our leaders started. We must promise to do right by our people and help stop hunger," he said.
Mbeki said African leaders needed strength and bravery to beat clever enemies. He wants all Africans to act this way.
He talked about when the United Nations made a plan in 1978 to free Namibia. Many people worried this plan would cause problems with talks. The United Nations had many Western countries that once ruled other places, but the plan worked, and Namibia became free to rule itself.
Mbeki first met Nujoma in the early 1970s in Lusaka, Zambia. He said Nujoma did not just lead his political party. He also helped fight against unfair treatment across southern Africa.
