Namibia’s founding President Sam Nujoma will be studying geology, setting up his own charity foundation and enjoying the lifestyle afforded to a serving head of state when he retires in a week’s time.
After 15 years in office and almost five decades in the political limelight as Namibia’s independence hero, the 75-year-old Nujoma is spending a final week in office ahead of the inauguration on March 21 of his chosen heir Hifikepunye Pohamba.
The white-bearded and bespectacled veteran leader is not however cutting off all ties to Namibian political life as he will retain the powerful post of president of the ruling South West African Peoples’ Organisation (Swapo) until 2007.
Nujoma, who has been leading Swapo since 1960, will be officially known as the First President after he hands over to Pohamba.
He will also be moving some of his staff from State House to offices in the new Sam Nujoma Foundation to be housed in a building slated for construction in central Windhoek.
”This foundation was established to promote all Namibians who need support and to create a sense of belonging”, Nujoma said at the launch of the foundation last month.
”The Sam Nujoma Foundation will care for orphans and other vulnerable children”, he said.
Under a special Bill passed in November, Nujoma retains his full salary as retired president and gets a bonus equal to one year’s salary to kick off his golden retirement. His salary has never been made public.
Nujoma will also have three chauffeured vehicles, including a Mercedes and an off-road vehicle at his disposal, along with a 10-man strong security team and an office staff of six.
The Namibian state is also paying for three domestic workers, two chefs, three gardeners, two butlers and two laundry attendants to help run the Nujoma household.
Nujoma will not have to pay for water and electricity at his residence in Windhoek or at his seaside holiday house at Henties’ Bay, about 350km west of the
capital.
Nujoma and his wife Kovambo will also be allowed four first-class air tickets for international travel per year and 10 within Namibia.
Other than his Swapo duties, Nujoma is also serving as chancellor of the University of Namibia, a term that was recently renewed for another six years.
Showered with honorary doctorates over his long political career, Nujoma nevertheless last month enrolled at the University of Namibia’s special programme for elderly students to obtain a master’s degree in geology.
Growing up under apartheid rule, Nujoma obtained the equivalent of a junior high school education through correspondence courses before he went into exile in March 1960.
Disciplined, Nujoma follows a daily routine of early morning exercises after getting up at 5am and begins his workday at 6am.
He also often returns to his home village in Okahao in northern Namibia where his 100-year-old mother still lives.
Farming is also one of his interests and the president often makes weekend visits to his commercial farm 300km north of Windhoek where he is known for keeping farm workers on their toes with requests for detailed reports on the maize crops, the orange plantation and livestock. – Sapa-AFP