Windhoek: Founding President Sam Nujoma’s former senior special assistant, John Nauta, shared insights into Nujoma’s protective nature towards his staff, emphasizing the late leader’s deep understanding and care for those who worked with him.
According to Namibia Press Agency, Nauta, who retired in 2019, explained that Nujoma was particularly protective of staff members with little or no formal education. Nujoma was aware that their educational opportunities were limited due to their involvement in the liberation struggle, and he did not tolerate any mockery directed at them. Nauta noted, “If you mocked people because they did not have a good education, you would not get along well with him.”
Nauta pointed out that many of Nujoma’s staff had been with him in Luanda and Lusaka, sharing the hardships of the struggle. He also highlighted Nujoma’s fondness for children and education, recalling how Nujoma encouraged his staff to pursue educational opportunities and even funded their studies. “He loved kids, and he loved education. He was always encouraging his staff and would at times, sponsor them to take certain courses,” Nauta said.
Nauta further described Nujoma’s compassionate approach towards those who missed out on education during the struggle, encouraging them to learn skills like tailoring. He emphasized Nujoma’s legacy as a Pan-Africanist, strategist, and education advocate, stating, “We must remember comrade Nujoma as one of the Pan-Africanists, one of the strategists, a thinker. I would say he’s an educationist as well.”
Nujoma, who served as Namibia’s president from 1990 to 2005, passed away at the age of 95 in a hospital in Windhoek on Saturday.
