Day: February 24, 2024

WINDHOEK: Three weeks after Namibia’s third President, Dr Hage Geingob, passed away, thousands attended his memorial service in Windhoek on Saturday.

A multitude of Namibians and dignitaries from across the world gathered at the national stadium to remember and honour the former Head of State.

Geingob, who was in the final term of his presidency since he took over in 2015, died in a Windhoek hospital on 04 February 2024.

Close to 20 heads of states and government across Africa, Europe, Asia, the Middle East and as far as the Americas attended the service at the Independence Stadium.

Prime Minister Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila, who led the proceedings, thanked the foreign dignitaries, saying that their presence was ‘the biggest source of strength.’

Geingob’s former deputy and now Namibia’s fourth President, Nangolo Mbumba, led the mourners at the packed stadium.

The memorial service was preceded by the procession of Geingob’s mortal remains across the nation’s capital on Friday.

Thousands of Windhoek resi
dents lined the streets of the city to witness and honour the fallen hero of the Namibian nation.

Geingob will be buried at the national shrine, Heroes’ Acre in Windhoek, which will run concurrently with a 21-gun salute.

Source: The Namibia Press Agency

WINDHOEK: Vice President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah has said that the presence of over 20 heads of state at the memorial service of the late President Hage Geingob is testament that the world will miss him.

She made the statement while delivering her tribute during the memorial service held in Geingob’s honour at the Independence Stadium in Windhoek on Saturday.

Nandi-Ndaitwah said it was not by mistake that the ruling party, Swapo, deployed Geingob to the government and the nation.

‘He did not let the party down, and this is demonstrated by how the nation and the world is mourning him,’ she said.

The vice president noted that the period since Geingob’s joining of the Swapo Party in 1964 was marked by dedication to the just cause of genuine freedom and independence for Namibians.

‘He was a leader born in a generation that fearlessly sacrificed for a free and independent Namibia,’ Nandi-Ndaitwah said.

She further added that Geingob was scheduled to co-chair the United Nations Summit of the Future in Septembe
r this year, adding that the United Nations will surely miss him.

‘His voice was vocal on various international fora, particularly the African Union, UN and others for the promotion of multilateralism and equality among nations. The world was waiting with expectation for him, along with his German counterpart, to chair the UN Summit of the Future,’ she said.

Meanwhile, Popular Democratic Movement (PDM) president McHenry Venaani in his tribute said Geingob’s legacy is not only that of a head of state, but also that of a deft negotiator on the international stage.

‘His skilful diplomacy and adept negotiation strategies were instrumental in navigating some of the complexities of our nation’s history,’ Venaani added.

Geingob died on 04 February 2024 at the age of 82.

Source: The Namibia Press Agency

WINDHOEK: Namibia’s late President, Dr Hage Geingob, will be remembered as a unifier as he embodied a politics of inclusivity.

This is according to Namibia’s Founding President Sam Nujoma, who paid tribute to Geingob during Geingob’s State memorial service here on Saturday.

Nujoma noted in a statement delivered on his behalf by Prime Minister Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila at the official public event that the outpouring of love from all over the world is a testament to Geingob’s diplomacy of multilateralism.

He said the late Head of State advocated for Namibian unity in diversity, as witnessed through his mantra of ‘The Namibian House in which no one should feel left out.’

‘He thus will be remembered as a unifier because he embodied a politics that was not divisive as he understood the immense power of unity and vehemently fought against tribalism,’ Nujoma, who was present at the event, said.

Nujoma recalled that the last time he spoke to Geingob was when he called him a day before he went for medical treat
ment in the United States of America in late January 2024.

‘On that occasion, I wished him a quick recovery and renewed strength to continue leading our country to greater heights of economic development and prosperity,’ he said at the stadium covered by a sombre mood.

Nujoma, who met Geingob for the first time in 1963 in Kinshasa in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, said Geingob was ‘very attentive, teachable and a very consultative person who placed great emphasis on dialogue.’

The former Statesman said the hero’s funeral accorded to Geingob means that ‘we are giving a richly deserved recognition to a national hero and third President of the Republic of Namibia.’

Geingob is a recipient of the Most Ancient Order of the Welwitschia Mirabilis, which is Namibia’s highest award.

In his tribute, Nujoma said Geingob’s towering presence will be missed in the corridors of the United Nations, African Union and the SADC headquarters.

Source: The Namibia Press Agency

WINDHOEK: President of the General Assembly of Cuba, Esteban Lazo Hernandez will deliver to former First Lady Monica Geingos the National Order of José Martí which was bestowed on her late husband, President Hage Geingob.

Hernandez announced this on Saturday at the State memorial service in honour of the late Geingob.

‘The beautiful history that brought together President Geingob and our country has earned him the title of endeared friend of the Cuban people and its revolution, which therefore makes him worthy of two of the most important decorations granted by the Republic of Cuba,’ he said.

President Fidel Castro bestowed on Geingob the Order of Carlos Manuel de Céspedes in 1994, while he was Prime Minister of Namibia.

‘Then, in virtue of the Presidential decree law number 452 of 01 July 2022, President Miguel Díaz-Canel bestowed on him the National Order of José Martí, an honour he could not receive in life and which I will deliver to his wife posthumously,’ said Hernandez.

The National Order of José
Martí is a State honour in Cuba, named after José Martí, a national hero of Cuba.

Hernandez further said Cuba will never forget its Namibian friends, one of whom Geingob had been.

‘A baobab (tree) has fallen, but his example will multiply in the young people who embody the future and who will make of Namibia a better country as he dreamed,’ he concluded.

Source: The Namibia Press Agency

WINDHOEK: Botswana’s President Mokgweetsi Masisi has said the late President Hage Geingob was a true friend to Botswana, and will amongst others be remembered for the bilateral agreement that allows citizens to use their national identity cards to cross the borders between both countries.

Speaking at the final memorial service for the late president here on Saturday, Masisi said he deeply valued Geingob’s support as a senior Statesman, confidant and trustworthy partner in building the extraordinary partnerships the two countries and people enjoy today.

‘We are all the better for having been touched by President Hage Geingob’s influence and huge sacrifices. My confidence is spared that our two countries and people will leverage on the solid foundation built by Dr Geingob for us to broaden and deepen our relations and strong bonds of friendship between our countries and people,’ he said.

He further indicated that the late Head of State shared a common vision of unwavering determination to achieve higher leve
l development of their people, noting that globally, he was a true Pan Africanist and a genuine believer in multilateralism.

‘I recall fond memories of our numerous meetings and robust exchanges on the challenges facing our people and our resolve to act in unity and solidarity to address the common challenges and achievements… The goal of shared prosperity for our peoples,’ Masisi said.

Geingob will be buried at Heroes’ Acre in Windhoek on Sunday.

Source: The Namibia Press Agency