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| Namibia’s founding president, Nujoma, turns 80
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Windhoek, Namibia (PANA) -
Namibian companies, state-owned institutions and ordi
nary citizens from all walks of life showered former Namibian president Sam Nujo
m
a with praises Tuesday morning as the veteran of Namibian politics turned 80.
The state-owned daily, New Era, Tuesday ran a 28-page supplement filled with pic
tures of a grey-haired smiling Nujoma and compliments from private companies and
state-owned institutions for Nujoma, the iconic former president who retired fro
m
active politics in 2007.
“We wish our Founding Father….a blissful 80th anniversary, and wish that he shal
l provide us with his blessed presence, motivational determination and charismat
i
c qualities for many more years to come. Thanks for being such an inspiration,”
r
ead one congratulatory message from a privately-run tertiary college.
Another advertorial read: “Thanks to his outstanding leadership of the Namibian
revolution, Namibia is forever free, democratic and independent under the Swapo
p
arty. His legacy permeates
the entire fabric of the Namibian society. Through his leadership our country w
as transformed into a vibrant democracy such that it is now an oasis of tranquil
i
ty, peace and stability.”
Nujoma, christened Father of the Namibian nation, at 80 hardly shows visible sig
ns of ageing. Two weeks ago, the University of Namibia capped Nujoma with a Mast
e
rs Degree in Geology,
a degree for which he has been studying since 1975. It was the first time the un
iversity has graduated an 80-year-old and a former president.
Nujoma now says he wants to attempt a doctorate in geological studies.
Nujoma led Namibia for more than a decade since it attained independence from So
uth Africa’s apartheid government.
His political career as head of the ruling Swapo party spans more than four deca
des.
Born 12 May 1929 in northern Namibia and educated at missionary schools, Nujoma
worked in a variety of hand jobs before entering into politics at the
height of apartheid repression in the 1950s.
He went on form and lead SWAPO, which was the main organization opposing South A
frican occupation of the territory.
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| Windhoek - 12/05/2009 |
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