Cancer takes Namibia’s ‘towering veteran’ leader
Windhoek – Namibia’s President Hage Geingob died early yesterday in a hospital in Windhoek, his office said. He was 82.
Geingob, who was serving his second term as president and was his country’s first prime minister after independence, revealed last month that he was being treated for cancer.
Most recently, he took a stand by supporting South Africa’s complaint against Israel under the Genocide Convention and by condemning Namibia’s former colonial ruler Germany for rejecting the case.
“It is with utmost sadness and regret that I inform you that our beloved Dr Hage G Geingob, the president of the republic of Namibia, has died today,” said a statement signed by acting president Nangolo Mbumba.
“At his side was his dear wife, Madame Monica Geingob, and his children.”
A biopsy, following a routine medical check-up in January, had revealed “cancerous cells”, Geingob’s office said at the time.
President Cyril Ramaphosa said: “Today, South Africa joins the people of our sister state Namibia in mourning the death of a leader, patriot and friend of South Africa.
“President Geingob was a towering veteran of Namibia’s liberation from colonialism and apartheid.
“He was also greatly influential in the solidarity that the people of Namibia extended to the people of South Africa so that we could be free today.”
President William Ruto of Kenya echoed this praise.
“He was a believer of a unified Africa and strongly promoted the continent’s voice and visibility in the global arena,” he said.
First elected president in 2014, Geingob was Namibia’s longest-serving prime minister and third president.
In 2013, Geingob underwent brain surgery and last year he had an aortic operation in South Africa.
Up until his death, he had been receiving treatment at the Lady Pohamba Hospital in Windhoek.
“The Namibian nation has lost a distinguished servant of the people, a liberation struggle icon, the chief architect of our constitution and the pillar of the Namibian house,” said Mbumba.
“At this moment of deepest sorrow, I appeal to the nation to remain calm and collected while the government attends to all necessary state arrangements, preparations and other protocols,” he added. –