Staff Reporter
FORMER President Nangolo Mbumba is a distinguished son of Namibia and a devoted servant of the people, said President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah in a message released by State House.
President Mbumba celebrates his 85th birthday today.
President Nandi-Ndaitwah joined the Government and people of Namibia in extending “warmest congratulations and heartfelt good wishes” to the veteran of the liberation struggle.
“An 85th birthday is a remarkable milestone. In the life of Comrade Mbumba, however, it carries a significance that extends beyond the passage of years,” the President said.
On behalf of the Namibian people, Government and her family, the President wished Mbumba continued good health, strength, peace and happiness.
She said the occasion offers an opportunity to honour a life “closely intertwined with the journey of our nation, from the difficult years of struggle and sacrifice, through the dawn of Independence, to the demanding work of building and consolidating the Republic we cherish today.”
The President noted that Mbumba belongs to the generation of Namibians who “answered history’s call when freedom was not guaranteed” and committed himself to the liberation struggle through SWAPO.
“After Independence in 1990,” she said, “Mbumba again answered the call to serve, carrying significant responsibilities in the Government of the Republic of Namibia” and contributing to the establishment and strengthening of the institutions of the country’s democracy.
Throughout his decades of public service, the President said, he became known for “loyalty, humility, discipline, steadiness and an abiding commitment to duty.”
President Nandi-Ndaitwah highlighted Mbumba’s tenure as Head of State following the passing of President Hage Geingob in February 2024.
“At that difficult hour, Comrade Mbumba assumed the responsibilities of the Presidency with calmness, dignity and a deep sense of constitutional duty,” she said.
“He did not seek to make the moment about himself. Rather, he understood that his responsibility was to steady the ship of state, preserve the continuity of our constitutional democracy and help guide a grieving nation through an unprecedented transition.”
She added that, in doing so, he demonstrated “the willingness to place country before self.”
“Today, therefore, we celebrate more than a birthday. We celebrate 85 years of life, but also decades of sacrifice, patriotism and service,” Nandi-Ndaitwah said.
According to her, the Namibia of today was built through the sacrifices and contributions of many men and women across generations.
“Comrade Mbumba,” she said, “can rightly look back with quiet pride and know that, when his country called upon him, he answered and did his part. That is a legacy worthy of our gratitude.”
The President said: “Happy 85th Birthday, Comrade President Nangolo Mbumba! May God continue to bless you, and may God bless the Republic of Namibia.”
Photo: File
