Kovambo Nujoma

Nujoma was born in Windhoek on 10 March 1933,[2] as 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.

Kovambo Nujoma was conferred the Most Brilliant Order of the Sun, First Class on Heroes' Day in 2014.[7]

In Walvis Bay, a street was named after her in the southwest of the town.[8] In addition, a community hall in Windhoek was named after her, now known as the "Kovambo Nujoma Community Hall."[9]

During South West African rule, Nujoma was put under house arrest together with her brother, Aaron Mushimba, in 1960. She was accused when her husband left to Angola in 1960, to have decided to join him in exile at Angola and for that reason she was approached as well as raided by the South African security forces because she pleaded with them of letting her go in order to join her husband Sam Nujoma by fighting in guerilla activities.[10]