By Elvis Mboya
Nairobi, Kenya: Namibia’s Founding President, Dr. Sam Nujoma, was not only a revolutionary leader who embodied the nation’s struggle for independence but also a key architect of its economic growth and development.
His passing at the age of 95 marks the end of a historic chapter, yet his political and economic contributions will continue to shape Namibia’s future.
While Nujoma is widely celebrated for his role in securing Namibia’s freedom, his economic legacy is often overlooked. Despite having only a primary school education, he played a crucial role in stabilizing the nation’s economy—guiding it through the transition from colonial apartheid, leading the country from 1990 to 2005, and supporting self-sustaining initiatives even after retirement.
Early life and economic awakening
Born on May 12, 1929, in Etunda village in today’s Omusati region, Nujoma completed primary school at the Finnish Missionary School between 1937 and 1943. At 17, he became economically conscious while working as a laborer in Walvis Bay, then part of South Africa, before taking up a job as a cleaner for South African Railways in Windhoek. At the time, Namibia—then South West Africa—was under apartheid rule.
In Windhoek, many young Africans saw manual labor as their only escape from subsistence farming and poverty. Through his experiences in the capital, Nujoma witnessed the severe economic hardships faced by the black majority, which fueled his involvement in labor unions. He became a vocal advocate for fair treatment of African workers and led the Old Location Uprising, which resulted in his arrest and eventual exile.
Investing in education and economic empowerment
While in exile in Zambia and Tanzania, Nujoma sought international support to help young Namibians further their education abroad. Many of these individuals later played key roles in his administration as ministers, ambassadors, and policymakers, contributing to the country’s economic development.
Nujoma firmly believed in education as the key to reducing social and economic inequalities. On his 85th birthday, he reiterated this belief, stating, “The best way in which we can address social and economic inequalities in our country is by ensuring that all our people, especially the youth, are provided with quality education.â€
Because apartheid-era policies had restricted Namibians from studying medicine, science, and engineering, Nujoma’s administration forged bilateral agreements with Kenya, Tanzania, Malawi, Zambia, and Zimbabwe to bring in skilled professionals—including teachers, doctors, and engineers—who transferred their knowledge to locals. Successive governments continued this initiative, ensuring a steady supply of skilled labor.
Building a self-sustaining economy
Unlike many post-independence leaders who dismantled colonial economic structures, Nujoma took a balanced approach. He maintained critical infrastructure—such as roads, schools, hospitals, water, and electricity—while simultaneously fostering new industries. His administration prioritized Namibia’s key economic sectors, including mining, fishing, beef production, tourism, and subsistence farming.
Even in retirement, Nujoma remained committed to economic self-sufficiency. He actively farmed on his family’s land in Etunda, growing Mahangu (pearl millet), the staple food of his Owambo community.
He encouraged Namibians to utilize the short rainy season to cultivate their farms and work towards national food security. Additionally, he played a key role in securing international support to combat drought and enhance agricultural resilience.
Vision for Namibia’s economic future
Nujoma’s dream of establishing a third port at Angra Fria in the Kunene Region and University of Namibia’s Marine Campus in Henties Bay, among others, underscored his long-term vision for economic independence.
He understood that sustainable economic growth and foreign investment could only flourish in a peaceful and stable environment. His efforts in promoting national unity laid the groundwork for the peace Namibia continues to enjoy today.
Speaking at the 59th Session of the United Nations General Assembly in 2004, he emphasized: “Without concrete and sustained peace and stability, Africa’s economic growth and poverty eradication will remain unfulfilled dreams.â€
In his 2001 autobiography, Whether Others Wavered, Nujoma detailed his role in Namibia’s liberation struggle. However, his economic vision and achievements remain equally significant in shaping the nation’s trajectory, of which he will always be immortalised for!
Fare thee well, Tatekulu (big man).
*Elvis Mboya is the President of the Namibia-Kenya Chamber of Commerce and a former journalist in Namibia and Kenya.
