Kovambo Theopoldine Katjimune Nujoma (née Mushimba; born 10 March 1933) is a Namibian political figure and former First Lady of Namibia.[1]
Kovambo Nujoma | |
|---|---|
| First Lady of Namibia | |
| In role 11 March 1990 – 21 March 2005 | |
| President | Sam Nujoma |
| Preceded by | Role created |
| Succeeded by | Penehupifo Pohamba |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Kovambo Theopoldine Katjimune Mushimba 10 March 1933 Windhoek |
| Political party | SWAPO |
| Spouse | |
| Relations | Aaron Mushimba (brother) |
| Children | Utoni Daniel (born 1952) John Ndeshipanda (born 1955) Sakaria Nefungo (born 1957) Nelago (1959–1961) |
| Parent(s) | Johannes and Kandorera Mushimba |
Nujoma, who is the wife of former president Sam Nujoma, was the inaugural First Lady of Namibia for 15 years from the country's creation in 1990 until 2005. She has been nicknamed the "Mother of the Nation".
Biography
Nujoma was born in Windhoek on 10 March 1933,[2] as the daughter of Johannes and Kandorera Mushimba. Her siblings included Aaron Mushimba, a businessman and SWAPO pro-independence figure.[3]
She married Sam Nujoma on 6 May 1956.[4] They had three sons and one daughter: Utoni Daniel (born 1952), John Ndeshipanda (1955–1993),[5] Sakaria "Zacky" Nujoma (born 1957) and Nelago Nujoma (born 1959), who died at 18 months while her husband was in exile.[1]
In 1960, during South West African rule, Nujoma was put under house arrest together with her brother, Aaron Mushimba. She was accused when her husband left to Angola in 1960, of planning to join him in exile at Angola and for that reason she was approached and raided by the South African security forces who tried to persuade her to kill her husband.[6]
Kovambo Nujoma became the inaugural First Lady of Namibia upon the country's establishment on 21 March 1990. She was First Lady for three terms, until President Sam Nujoma retired from office on 21 March 2005.
Awards
Kovambo Nujoma was conferred the Most Brilliant Order of the Sun, First Class on Heroes' Day (26 August) in 2014.[7]
Recognitions
In Walvis Bay, a street was named after her in the southwest of the town.[8] A community hall in Windhoek was also named after her, now known as the Kovambo Nujoma Community Hall.[9]
References
- ^ a b "Biography". The Sam Nujoma Foundation. Retrieved 1 March 2023.
- ^ Gaomas, Surihe (14 March 2005). "Namibia: First Lady Celebrates 72nd Birthday". New Era. Retrieved 20 October 2021 – via AllAfrica.
- ^ "Aaron Mushimba – struggle icon, politician and businessman (7 December 1946 – 31 August 2014)". New Era. 5 September 2014. Archived from the original on 8 September 2014. Retrieved 18 November 2023.
- ^ Dierks, Klaus. "Biographies of Namibian Personalities, N". Retrieved 30 December 2022.
- ^ Namutewa, Tyappa (11 October 1993). "'Pakkie' laid to rest" (PDF). The Namibian. pp. 1, 3. Archived from the original (PDF) on 22 December 2022. Retrieved 18 November 2023.
- ^ Torreguitar, Elena (2009). National Liberation Movements in Office: Forging Democracy with African Adjectives in Namibia. Peter Lang. ISBN 978-3-631-57995-4 – via Google Books.
- ^ "Namibians honoured by President". New Era. 28 August 2014. Archived from the original on 29 June 2018. Retrieved 28 July 2015.
- ^ "Kovambo Nujoma Drive, Walvis Bay". My Africa. Archived from the original on 9 January 2023. Retrieved 18 November 2023.
- ^ "Community Halls". Khomas Regional Council. Archived from the original on 24 February 2023. Retrieved 18 November 2023.