https://en.sputniknews.africa/20250301/sadc-leaders-bid-farewell-to-namibias-founding-president-nujoma-1070878801.html
SADC Leaders Bid Farewell to Namibia’s Founding President Nujoma
SADC Leaders Bid Farewell to Namibia’s Founding President Nujoma
Sputnik Africa
The statesman and leader of the Namibian revolution died in a Windhoek hospital on February 8 at the age of 95. He was laid to rest with a hero's funeral at... 01.03.2025, Sputnik Africa
2025-03-01T14:25+0100
2025-03-01T14:25+0100
2025-03-03T13:44+0100
sub-saharan africa
sam nujoma
emmerson mnangagwa
cyril ramaphosa
namibia
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south africa
southern africa development community (sadc)
african union (au)
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Leaders from across the Southern African Development Community (SADC) gathered to bid farewell to Namibia’s Founding President Sam Nujoma, who was laid to rest in Windhoek on Saturday.South African President Cyril Ramaphosa arrived on Saturday morning to attend the funeral service. Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa and his Angolan counterpart João Lourenço were also in attendance. The two heads of state had attended the state memorial at Independence Stadium on Friday.At the memorial service, Mnangagwa, who is also the chairperson of SADC, stated that Nujoma's death is a significant loss not only for Namibia but also for the entire region.At the same occasion, Lourenço described Nujoma as an exemplary leader who championed the rights of his people.Ntsokoane Samuel Matekane, the Prime Minister of Lesotho, and his Eswatini counterpart Russell Dlamini were among other SADC leaders who attended the funeral.Also in attendance were former Botswana President Ian Khama, former South African President Thabo Mbeki, and Joseph Kabila, former leader of the Democratic Republic of Congo. Former Mozambique President Joaquim Chissano also attended the burial. Nigeria, Ghana, and Tanzania were represented by their vice presidents, while Finland's former president, Tarja Halonen, also attended the occasion, which was witnessed by hundreds of mourners. Former First Lady of Zimbabwe Grace Mugabe spoke of the close relationship between her late husband, Robert Mugabe, and Nujoma.Nujoma was the last of the revolutionary leaders who successfully led their countries to independence in Southern Africa. He was also the last surviving founding father of the Organization of African Unity in 1963, the precursor to the African Union.
https://en.sputniknews.africa/20250228/namibias-nandi-ndaitwah-pays-homage-to-first-president-nujoma-calls-for-national-unity-1070862632.html
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sam nujoma, emmerson mnangagwa, cyril ramaphosa, namibia, africa, south africa, southern africa development community (sadc), african union (au), southern africa
SADC Leaders Bid Farewell to Namibia’s Founding President Nujoma
14:25 01.03.2025 (Updated: 13:44 03.03.2025) Namibia Press Agency (NAMPA)
The statesman and leader of the Namibian revolution died in a Windhoek hospital on February 8 at the age of 95. He was laid to rest with a hero's funeral at Heroes’ Acre.
Leaders from across the Southern African Development Community (SADC) gathered to bid farewell to Namibia’s Founding President Sam Nujoma, who was laid to rest in Windhoek on Saturday.
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa arrived on Saturday morning to attend the funeral service. Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa and his Angolan counterpart João Lourenço were also in attendance. The two heads of state had attended the state memorial at Independence Stadium on Friday.
At the memorial service, Mnangagwa, who is also the chairperson of SADC, stated that Nujoma's death is a significant loss not only for Namibia but also for the entire region.
“His selfless efforts and unwavering commitment to justice, equality, and freedom for his people and all of mankind will remain etched in our collective memory for posterity,” said Mnangagwa.
At the same occasion, Lourenço described Nujoma as an exemplary leader who championed the rights of his people.
He characterized Namibia’s first president as “an outstanding figure in African contemporary history, a hero of the Namibian people, and a symbol of the unbreakable fight for the liberation of Southern Africa.”
Ntsokoane Samuel Matekane, the Prime Minister of Lesotho, and his Eswatini counterpart Russell Dlamini were among other SADC leaders who attended the funeral.
Also in attendance were former Botswana President Ian Khama, former South African President Thabo Mbeki, and Joseph Kabila, former leader of the Democratic Republic of Congo. Former Mozambique President Joaquim Chissano also attended the burial. Nigeria, Ghana, and Tanzania were represented by their vice presidents, while Finland's former president, Tarja Halonen, also attended the occasion, which was witnessed by hundreds of mourners. Former First Lady of Zimbabwe Grace Mugabe spoke of the close relationship between her late husband, Robert Mugabe, and Nujoma.
“I knew President Nujoma even before he was president. When he was still fighting for the independence of the country, he used to visit my husband a lot. I would see them having conversations about what he wanted to see happening in Namibia,” she said during her visit to Nujoma’s residence on Thursday.
Nujoma was the last of the revolutionary leaders who successfully led their countries to independence in Southern Africa. He was also the last surviving founding father of the Organization of African Unity in 1963, the precursor to the African Union.
