Africa-Press – Namibia. President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah has highlighted the prioritisation of agriculture as one of the key lessons Namibians learned from the late Founding President, Dr Sam Nujoma.
“He reminded us at all times that Namibia is disproportionately affected by climate change, leading to unpredictable weather patterns, persistent drought, and floods which affect agricultural output. And as we all know, agriculture has always been one of the priorities he advocated for, as he believed in the importance of food security. He kept telling us that a nation that cannot feed itself will never be protected,” she said.
The President made these remarks at Heroes’ Acre, where a remembrance service in honour of the late Founding President took place on Monday, 12 May. The date marked his first birthday since his passing in February.
“We all know that the passing of our Founding Father on the 8th of February 2025 marked a sad chapter in the history of our nation. On that day, we were deprived of the thread that bound us as a people to our treasured leader of the Namibian revolution,” President Nandi-Ndaitwah said.
The President added that the government, together with the Sam Nujoma Foundation, had decided to honour his birthday with the ceremony and to declare it a tree-planting day under the theme: “The Baobab tree has fallen, but its roots remain.”
“The tree-planting ceremony is a meaningful tribute to the pivotal role the Founding President played in shaping Namibia’s history — from the liberation struggle to freedom and development. Trees protect, regenerate and nurture. The tree-planting ceremony therefore reflects the values President Nujoma embodied, most notably his unwavering dedication to nature, peace, unity, and the promotion of national development,” she explained.
The President recalled that the late Founding Father consistently emphasised the preservation of biodiversity and the protection of the environment. The tree-planting ceremony, she added, is therefore intended to serve as a symbol of resilience, life, continuity, and growth.
“The tree-planting ceremony, which has just taken place here and is taking place across the country today, is about continuity in the conservation efforts to which the Founding President was deeply committed,” she said.
The President added that the occasion also serves as a call to action for all Namibians to uphold and carry forward the legacy of Dr Sam Nujoma — a legacy rooted in unity, peace and development.
“We are here to remind ourselves of the responsibility he has left us. The lessons of the Founding President, and his continued emphasis on unity and hard work, must strengthen all of us, the Namibian people, as we walk the path of nation-building and development,” President Nandi-Ndaitwah said.
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