Dear Editor

It is with a great sense of pride that I would like to acknowledge the fact that the African Icon was born in Namibia, May 12, 1929. His name is Cde Dr Sam Nujoma.

Dr Nujoma is admired by many for his great deeds and noble qualities. He stood tall among others, he is a true statesman, a cadre, a fearless leader who took risks and he is a people‘s person. He is a comrade respected by all progressive people in Africa and the world over. Happy birthday, Munamuhulu (Tatekulu) and the May 12 Movement befits your calibre.

As a nation, we have reasons to be grateful to God who gave us Dr Nujoma as our Founding President. I have travelled around the world and thank you to the University of Namibia, SWAPO Party Youth League, my family and friends for affording me that opportunity.
What surprised me the most during my international trips was how the name Sam Nujoma has become synonymous with Namibia.
Whenever I introduced myself as a Namibian, the next remark that followed invariably was how is Dr Sam Nujoma doing? Is he still studying geology?, That is a true Afrikan Leader and you Namibians should take good care of Nujoma. What is he doing now? The name Namibia or Sam Nujoma has become a magnetic pulling factor.

To my surprise, the majority who speak good about Dr Nujoma and Namibia are just ordinary people and this always makes me feel proud of our Father of the Namibian Nation and Namibia as a country.
I have witnessed this in Mozambique, in Cuba, in Nigeria, in Finland, in the UK, China, in Zimbabwe, in PNG, in Ghana, in Zambia, in India and the list is long.

However, the opposite is true for our neighbour RSA. The majority of South Africans I made contact with do not even know where Namibia is situated and some even think it is one of the cities in Nigeria.

I had thought Namibia shared a common history with RSA because of apartheid and Robben Island, as well as a common market. I guess I was wrong. Back home I find some Namibians who are allergic to the Founding President and Namibia as a country and the material evidence is some of the nasty comments and negative views I read in the electronic and print media.

I sometimes wonder, whether these compatriots are just ignorant of the facts and the truth about the sacrifices and tribulations which the Founding President and other progressive Namibians have gone through for the sake of Namibia and its people.

They manufacture lies and utter untruths about the Founding President and portray Namibia as an anarchic country.
I sometimes ask myself why. That maybe some of these compatriots lack international exposure to see Dr Sam Nujoma and Namibia from an outsider’s perspective. However, some of these anti-Nujomas have international exposure but maybe the reasons are jealousy, ignorance, failure in life and wavering too much.  

To me and other progressive citizens, Dr Sam Nujoma is a first-class world treasure and the reason why every Namibian should smile.

Dr Nujoma deserves the best in his life from all of us. Dr Nujoma is a visionary leader who spotted the presidential potential in Cde Dr Hifikepunye Pohamba.

On March 21, 2005, Dr Nujoma willingly stepped down and handed over power to Pohamba.
From State House he went to study at the University of Namibia and there is no retired president on earth who has ever done that and Dr Nujoma has made history, again.

Again, November 30, 2007, Dr Nujoma willingly stepped down as party president.
We are told, back on April 19, 1960, he was elected SWAPO Party President in absentia. The citizens of the world also recognize Dr Nujoma as a true leader and awarded honours to him in the past and up to the present. This is exactly what he deserves at his advanced age and not rebuke. The same is true for Cde Dr Hifikepunye Pohamba, who still consults and listens to those who look down on him.

It is true Cde Dr Pohamba is a very humble, innocent gentleman indeed who consults even those who staged a parliament walkout when he addressed the nation.  
Ironically, the same group staged a walkout and immediately drove home at 120 km/hour to go and watch the State of the Nation address proceedings on NBC TV.

Their action was wrong and they deprived their constituents of a fair representation in parliament at that crucial hour. They are voted to be in parliament and not to watch TV at home.
As peace-loving Namibians, the majority of us as seen in the last presidential election results find Cde Pohamba to be a pillar of strength, a true leader we have grown to trust, a genuine leader who has distinguished himself through his significant contribution to Namibia’s wealth and welfare.

The proof is not in my words, but in Cde, Pohamba’s actions. As Head of State he did not confine himself to the comfort of State House but he travelled the entire Namibia by road last year to inspect agricultural projects, roads infra-structure and other GRN projects.

As always, Cde, Pohamba, went to the people because his politics is at the behest of the people and the welfare of Namibians is Pohamba’s chief priority. Thanks for a job well done Cde President and do not be discouraged by SMS’s in the articles manufactured by editors of some newspapers to further their interests.

I am not singing the praises or just glorifying our SWAPO Party’s national leaders as others might think, but I give credit where it is due. Yes, it is true as a country we face a lot of key challenges such as poverty, unemployment, homelessness and other socio-economic challenges, which is not Cde Pohamba’s homework alone. As Namibians, we must join hands, this is our homework and we are equal players in finding solutions to Namibia‘s socio-economic challenges.

Play your part and meet Cde Pohamba halfway. If you abstain then you are sabotaging economic progress and development.
Cde Dr Pohamba is only one person and has no magic wand to fix all broken things in Namibia. We as citizens must rally behind our president and support him in areas of urgent need.

We must not stand aside and watch him like we are watching NBC TV.  As citizens we have a duty and responsibility towards Namibia. This is our country, our only home and we have no other place on earth to call home or to run to in times of external or internal threats to our national security.

Let us love our country. Let us build Namibia. Dr Nujoma has played and is still playing his part. We must emulate Dr Nujoma‘s spirit of hard work, volunteerism during the northern railway construction project, at the Kalimbeza national rice cultivation project and hand over Namibia to our children’s children in a sustainable manner.
And we must remember, “A united people, striving to achieve a common good for all members of the society, will always emerge victorious.”

This quote is a powerful word of wisdom from Dr Sam Nujoma, which must be every citizen’s bread of life. Long Live Cde Dr Sam Nujoma, Long Live Cde Dr Hifikepunye Pohamba and Long Live the Republic of Namibia. Long live the May 12 Movement.

Charles Siyauya
(SPYL NEC & CC Member)