Photos via Revolution Studios
By Rene Tamayo Leon, translated from the Spanish
His Excellency Mr. Samuel Goagoseb, Namibian ambassador to Cuba told the audience that the South West Africa People's Organisation (SWAPO) national leadership and the Namibian people express their deep gratitude to the Cuban people, "for always being by our side during the most difficult times," during a tribute to Sam Nujoma, founding father and first president of that country, held in Havana on March 5.
The tribute to the African leader, that the Cubans see as a moral obligation, was held at the Palace of the Revolution, and headed by the First Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party (PCC) and President of the Republic, Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez.
The event was attended by members of the Political Bureau, Manuel Marrero Cruz, Prime Minister; Roberto Morales Ojeda, Secretary of Organization of the Central Committee; Salvador Valdés Mesa, Vice President of the Republic, and the Foreign Affairs and Interior ministers, Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla and Major General Lázaro Alberto Álvarez Casas.
Along with members of the Namibian embassy, other leaders of the Party, the Government, the UJC, mass organizations, the FAR, the Minint and the Cuban Institute of Friendship with the Peoples attended.
The well-deserved tribute to "this giant of universal history, icon of Africa's struggle against colonialism and apartheid, tireless fighter against oppression and inequality, and close friend of the Cubans," was guided by his friendship with Commander in Chief Fidel Castro Ruz. A friendship that became a symbol of the unbreakable ties that unite both peoples.
In a speech marked by his deep sense of loss and reverence, Ambassador Samuel Goagoseb stressed that this event honoured the life and legacy “of a man who was not only the founding father of Namibia, but also a beacon of hope for all those who fight for freedom and justice.”
When a pioneer dies, he said, “it is not just the loss of an individual, but the closing of a chapter in history. However, it is also a reminder of the enduring power of their vision and the responsibility we have to uphold their legacy. A pioneer plants the seeds of a better future, and though they may no longer walk the earth among us, their dreams continue to grow in the hearts of those they inspired.”
After a review of Nujoma's life and leadership in "the defining stages of Namibian history that shaped the political consciousness of resistance to colonialism and imperialism," Goagoseb recalled how bonds of friendship were forged between the liberation movements of Southern Africa and the Cuban people, and the strong bond between Nujoma and Fidel.
He made special mention of the assistance provided by the small contingent of brave Cuban internationalists who were stationed 16 kilometers away during the massacre perpetrated by South African racists in Casinga, Angola, when more than 800 Namibian women, children and elderly people were murdered.
“As we bid farewell to Dr. Sam Nujoma,” said the Ambassador, “let us honour his memory and continue to uphold the values he championed. Let us strive for a world where justice, equality and solidarity prevail. Let us strengthen the bonds of friendship between Namibia and Cuba, ensuring that future generations inherit a legacy of cooperation and mutual support.”
Speaking at the tribute, Vice President Salvador Valdés Mesa recalled that "Dr. Sam Nujoma became one of the greatest symbols of African resistance of all time."
The founding of SWAPO by Nujoma and other Namibian patriots in 1960, he recalled, "was a response to years of segregation and accumulated frustration, and expressed the fervent desire for freedom of a wounded and humiliated nation."
"SWAPO" —he later noted— "did not only fight for independence on Namibian territory. In the 1980s, the battle of Cuito Cuanavale in Angola marked a turning point. Cuban internationalist forces, together with Namibian and Angolan fighters, achieved a decisive victory against the South African army. This victory not only changed the course of the war in Angola, but also paved the way for Namibian independence."
“Finally, on 21 March 1990, Namibia raised its flag for the first time as an independent nation. Sam Nujoma, the man who had dedicated his life to this cause, became the country’s first president. His election was not only a recognition of his leadership, but also a sign of the trust his people placed in him,” he stressed.
Recalling the deep friendship between him and Fidel, he recalled that the historic leader of the Cuban Revolution "admired his tenacity and his ability to lead in the most difficult moments, and Nujoma, for his part, saw in our Commander in Chief a reference, a guide who never failed him."
"Together, they shared not only strategies and projects, but also the yearning for a free Africa, a sovereign Latin America and a world where the countries of the South could decide the destiny of their nations without foreign interference."
In the posthumous honouring of the Founding Father of Namibia, Salvador Valdés Mesa paid tribute to his support for the tireless battle against the criminal blockade of Cuba and the arbitrary inclusion of our country on the list of states that allegedly sponsor terrorism, while conveying his deepest condolences to the beloved Namibian people and the Nujoma family.
This work was translated and shared via a License CC-BY-NC
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