Learners from the Mariental High School and Danie Joubert Combined School now have a better understanding of the struggles and tribulations Namibians had to endure in their fight for independence from the colonial apartheid South African regime.

This follows the screening of the film ‘Namibia: The Struggle for Liberation’ at the Mariental High School in the Hardap Region during their memorial service for the former president recently.

The 2007 film depicts late Founding President Sam Nujoma’s journey and the challenges he suffered while fighting against the South African authorities in order to free Namibia from the shackles of apartheid.

The screening was done by the Ministry of Information and Communication Technology in an effort to reflect on Namibia’s past and the role Nujoma played.

The country observed a three-week mourning period, which culminated in the burial of Namibia’s first president at Heroes’ Acre in Windhoek on Saturday. Nujoma died on 08 February 2025 at the age of 95.

Several learners of Mariental High School shared with Nampa what they learnt from the film.

Grade 10 learner Resme Beukes said the movie gave her a clear insight into what type of leader Nujoma was, and his story inspired her in that moment to one day follow in his footsteps and be a good example to her peers.

Grade 12 learner Deo Hoveka said he was amazed at how much Nujoma sacrificed just to fight for the country’s independence and never gave up.

“It was my first time watching the movie. I was amazed at how much he gave up just to fight for people’s rights, even though his life was in danger and he had to live in exile. He never gave up until he made the country free. I learnt a lot,” stated Hoveka.

Another Grade 10 learner, Magdalena Hamutenya, said she already knew Nujoma’s story from the Namibian history books, and the movie just expanded her knowledge.

“Nujoma, for me, was a good leader because of what he stood for. He sacrificed a lot for this country, and because of his sacrifices, we are free today,” stated Hamutenya.

Another Mariental High School learner, Siyabonga !Aebeb, who is a member of the Sixth Session of the Namibian Children’s Parliament, shared how Nujoma’s life story impacted him as a learner.

“I am a social science learner, so I have been learning history throughout my life. People have shed blood just so we can have free education today. So, what are we, the youth, doing with that background knowledge? Are you using it to build yourself up? Are you making sure that you are the hero of your era? That’s how his life story impacted me because I want to be the one to make the change that I want to see,” stated !Aebeb.

Mariental High principal Marchalene Tsuses emphasised the significance of integrating history into education, especially teaching the current generation about the country’s freedom fighters like Hendrik Witbooi, who fought against the Germans, and Nujoma and other people who contributed to Namibia’s independence.

“I think knowing about [Nujoma] is very important; if you don’t know your history, where will you end up? The current generation should know where they come from, because the fruits they are reaping now come from the sacrifices of Nujoma and the People’s Liberation Army of Namibia fighters as well as other heroes who made the impossible possible, and if it was not for the liberation struggle, where will we be today?” she said.

Tsuses added that there are creative ways to teach history, especially in the digital era, where children don’t read as much as they should. She suggested that teachers should use storytelling through videos to share Namibian history, as this will balance both print and digital methods.

Altagracia Kheibes, a life skills teacher from Danie Joubert Combined School, also in Mariental, shared with Nampa some highlights of their memorial service that was held on 19 February.

“Our memorial was so beautiful. There was a unity of respect displayed by the teachers and learners. The learners made tributes through songs, musical instruments, and poetry, and one of the biggest highlights was the arrival of Bishop Zephania Kameeta, our keynote speaker. It was something huge for the learners just to be able to be in the same room with someone who they have read and learnt about in the history books. That’s why we invited Kameeta to share stories with the learners about Sam Nujoma. He knew and worked with him, and he also played a big part in fighting for Namibia’s independence,” she stated.

Kheibes added that the most astonishing thing about Nujoma’s story is his determination to achieve what he wanted. Despite many hardships that could have influenced him to quit, he kept going until he reached his goal to make Namibia free.

“That is why Sam Nujoma’s story is so important, as lessons can be drawn from his journey. He was a teenager when he stood up for people against apartheid, and he was 31 years old when he was exiled from the country. Despite facing many death threats, he never wavered from his mission.”

Kheibes believes that this unwavering focus and commitment are qualities that learners should take away from Nujoma’s story.