Kovambo Nujoma
Kovambo Theopoldine Katjimune Nujoma (née Mushimba; born 10 March 1933 in Windhoek) is a Namibian political figure and former First Lady of Namibia.[1]
Kovambo Nujoma | |
|---|---|
| First Lady of Namibia | |
| In role March 21, 1990 – March 21, 2005 | |
| President | Sam Nujoma |
| Preceded by | Role created |
| Succeeded by | Penehupifo Pohamba |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Kovambo Theopoldine Katjimune Mushimba March 10, 1933 Windhoek, South West Africa (now Namibia) |
| 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, served as the inaugural First Lady of Namibia for fifteen 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] the daughter of Johannes and Kandorera Mushimba. Nujoma's siblings included Aaron Mushimba, a businessman and SWAPO pro-independence figure.[3]
She married Sam Nujoma on 6 May 1956.[4] The couple 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.[6]
Kovambo Nujoma became the inaugural First Lady of Namibia upon the country's establishment on March 21, 1990. She served as First Lady for three terms, until President Sam Nujoma retired from office on March 21, 2005.
Awards
Kovambo Nujoma was conferred the Most Brilliant Order of the Sun, First Class on Heroes' Day in 2014.[7]
Recognitions
A street in Walvis Bay was named after her, which is located in the southwestern area of that town,[8] as well as a community hall in Windhoek.[9]
National Liberation
Nujoma was placed under house arrest together with her brother, Aaron Mushimba, in 1960. When her husband left for Angola in 1960, she was accused of having decided to join him there in the 1980s. For that reason, she was approached by the South African Security Forces to persuade her husband to return to South West Africa.[10]
References
- admin. "Biography". Sam Nujoma Foundation. Retrieved 2023-03-01.
- Gaomas, Surihe (14 March 2005). "Namibia: First Lady Celebrates 72nd Birthday". New Era (Namibia). AllAfrica.com. Retrieved 20 October 2021.
- "Aaron Mushimba – struggle icon, politician and businessman (7 December 1946 – 31 August 2014)". New Era (Namibia). 2014-09-05. Retrieved 2015-07-28.
- Dierks, Klaus. "Biographies of Namibian Personalities, N". www.klausdierks.com. Retrieved 30 December 2022.
- Namutewa, Tyappa (11 October 1993). "'Pakkie' laid to rest" (PDF). The Namibian. pp. 1, 3.
- "Biography". Sam Nujoma Foundation. Retrieved 30 December 2022.
- "Namibians honoured by President". New Era. 28 August 2014.
- "Kovambo Nujoma Drive in Walvis Bay - Erongo Region - myAfrica.info". www.myafrica.info. Retrieved 2023-01-09.
- https://khomasrc.gov.na/community
- Torreguitar, Elena (2009). National Liberation Movements in Office: Forging Democracy with African Adjectives in Namibia. Peter Lang. ISBN 978-3-631-57995-4.