Day: February 19, 2024

KEETMANSHOOP: Swapo Party regional coordinator for ||Kharas, Matheus Mumbala was most impressed with the late president, Hage Geingob’s leadership style, his loyalty to his country and the Swapo Party.

Mumbala, speaking during a tribute ceremony held in honour of Geingob over the weekend, said he first met the late president in the late 1980s during the liberation struggle and again in 1997 at Karasburg, while officiating the ||Kharas regional youth forum.

‘I recall the progressive militancy, hard work and patriotic commitment he displayed at all times as the first prime minister. The late president worked closely with all Swapo party members, comrades and his fellow peers,’ said Mumbala.

The late president leaves behind a legacy of hard work, inclusivity, bravery, dedication and uncompromising spirit that pursued the ideals of solidarity, freedom and justice with no failure, he added.

‘We have lost a patriot, a father, a leader of all generations, chairperson of the central committee and political bureau
, a cadre, a mentor, a champion of all. I am also calling on all Swapo party members to remain united,’ he said.

The ceremony was attended by Swapo party members from the region.

Geingob died at the age of 82 in a Windhoek hospital. His memorial service is scheduled for 24 February, to be followed by his burial on 25 February 2024 at Heroes’ Acre.

Source: The Namibia Press Agency

WINDHOEK: The family of the late President Hage Geingob says they have accepted that his remains will not be taken to his ancestral land to perform funeral rituals, but they are happy that he will be reunited with his fellow comrades at Heroes’ Acre.

In an interview with Nampa, his nephew, John //Khamuseb said Geingob is from the lion clan and that traditionally when a person dies, their remains are taken to the place where their umbilical cord was buried.

‘In our family and in our culture of the lion clan, a person is buried twice. When your umbilical cord is buried, that is your first burial, and when your body is buried, that is your second burial. So, in our culture, you should first go back to your first burial site and that spirit must be cut, whether it is in the traditional or biblical context, because you are taken out of your area of jurisdiction,’//Khamuseb said.

Unfortunately, he said, the family have already promised that they would hand Geingob’s remains over to the State.

‘He was the Comman
der in Chief of the armed forces and this is the first time in Namibia that a sitting president passes on. Our family has accepted the State funeral and we have great respect for the current president who stood firm with our uncle through thick and thin. We honour that decision. No matter what, we respect that he bestowed a Heroes funeral on our uncle. We really feel he must be reunited with his comrades,’//Khamuseb added.

He stressed that it was under the leadership and care of Geingob that the remains of war veterans such as Putuse Appolus, Peter Nanyemba, Isaac Shikongo (Pondo) and Homateni Kalwenya were brought back from exile to Namibia for burial at the Heroes’ Acre.

‘It was under his care that Anton Lubowski’s remains were buried at the Heroes’ Acre. It was under his command that Moses Garoeb’s remains were reburied at Heroes’ Acre. It was under his inspiration that Hidipo Hamutenya who formed another party, maybe out of circumstances, was brought back to the party and was buried at Heroes’ Acre. So,
for us, he has to be reunited with his comrades,’ //Khamuseb maintained.

He further extended appreciation to Namibians for their overwhelming support to Geingob’s family during the mourning period.

‘As a family we sincerely appreciate the Namibian nation as they continue to have commemoration services all over the country in this difficult time. We also extend gratitude to the great Swapo party cadres, who our uncle said were there for him during the most difficult time of the struggle in exile. We express our sincere gratitude to everyone who assisted our uncle in achieving his great dream to become president of the Republic of Namibia. They shaped him as a statesman. Today, showers of accolades are put on his shoulders,’//Khamuseb added.

Source: The Namibia Press Agency