On 9 October, President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah attended the premiere of the documentary Netumbo: A Leader Beyond Politics at Ster-Kinekor, The Grove Mall in Windhoek. She was joined by President Duma Boko of Botswana, friends, family, and Namibians from all walks of life.
Produced by Joe Vision Production House in collaboration with MultiChoice, the film tells the story of President Nandi-Ndaitwah’s journey from Onamutai Village to the frontlines of the liberation struggle and her lifelong commitment to Namibia’s freedom.
According to the Namibian Presidency, during the Q&A session, the President spoke about the importance of the creative industry and shared her dream of seeing Namibia build its own film city, where local stories and talent can shine on the world stage.
The Windhoek Observer interviewed Joel Haikali, the documentary’s producer, about its concept and reception.
Windhoek Observer (WO): Why did you create this documentary on the life of Her Excellency?
Joel Haikali (JH): We were invited by MultiChoice to pitch a concept, and our proposal was selected. We were subsequently commissioned to write, direct, and produce the film.
WO: How has the public responded to the documentary?
JH: The film premiered in Windhoek on 9 October before an audience of over 200 invited guests and was very well received.
WO: How will you share the documentary with a wider audience?
JH: The documentary is scheduled to air on 29 October on MultiChoice platforms, including the regional channel Zambezi Magic. The film was created with a regional audience in mind.
WO: How many people were involved in the production?
JH: A project of this scale required a strong and diverse team of producers, researchers, technical crew, on-screen contributors, and musicians. It was a true collaborative effort.
WO: How was the production funded?
JH: The film was commissioned by MultiChoice Namibia. In addition, for me as director, this documentary film is more than a portrait of a leader; it is a story of perseverance, sacrifice, and vision. I hope it conveys a spirit of openness, reflection, honesty, and dialogue, reminding us that everyone in this country has a story worth telling. One of the main challenges in making this film was accessing and affording archival materials from the liberation struggle era. Even visuals created in solidarity with the struggle remain difficult and costly to obtain, a challenge for any production, especially for a country documenting its own history.
