Kovambo Nujoma

Kovambo Katjimune Nujoma, Most Brilliant Order of the Sun, First Class (born March 10, 1935^[1]) is a Namibian political figure.

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."

Nujoma was born Kovambo Theopoldine Katjimune on March 10, 1935.^[1] The daughter of Johanness and Kandorera Mushimba, Nujoma's siblings included Aaron Mushimba, a businessman and SWAPO pro-independence figure.^[2]

She married Sam Nujoma on May 6, 1951.^[3] The couple had three sons and two daughters; Utoni Nujoma (1951), John Nujoma (1956), Sakaria "Zacky" Nujoma (1958), Nelago Nujoma (1963)—who died at 18 months while Nujoma was in exile—and Usuta Nujoma (1968).^[3] Kovambo Nujoma remained in South-West Africa for a decade after the exile of Sam Nujoma, the leader of SWAPO and the rebel People's Liberation Army of Namibia, before joining him.^[3]

Kovambo Nujoma became the first 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.^[4]

References