Publications
Partners
- Ramaphosa said Namibia's transition of power was an example for Africa.
- The late President Hage Geingob will be buried on Sunday.
- There will also be memorial services in Windhoek.
Two African heads of state and a first lady have already been to Namibia to deliver their condolences ahead of the burial of President Hage Geingob, who died at the age of 82 early last week.
The first to make the trip was Botswana's Mokgweetsi Masisi, a day after the announcement had been made.
On Saturday, Cyril Ramaphosa, who also enjoyed a close relationship with Geingob, arrived in Namibia to "express his heartfelt condolences", the Namibian presidency said.
On the same day as Ramaphosa's visit, from outside the Southern African Development Community (SADC), Rwandan first lady Jeannette Kagame arrived in Namibia to console the Geingob family.
Geingob's successor, President Nangolo Mbumba accompanied Ramaphosa to meet Geingob's widow Monica Geingos and family. (In the Damara language, the surname for males ends with a "b" and for women with an "s". That's why in the Geingo family, the late was known as Geingob while his wife is Geingos.)
READ | Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah becomes Namibia's first female vice-president following Geingob's death
Ramaphosa commended the Namibian government for leading by example with a "seamless power transition".
Less than a day after Geingob's death was announced, the state as per constitutional provisions swore in the 82-year-old Mbumba who had served as Geingob's deputy.
Ramaphosa said that the transition "serves as a good example and lesson for Africa".
Mbumba effectively became the fourth head of state since 1990 when the independence party, the South West Africa People's Organisation (SWAPO) was voted into power.
While Geingob is the first head of state to die in office, SWAPO will seek to make positive history in November at the general elections.
At its congress in 2023, the ruling party agreed that current Vice President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah would be the party's presidential candidate. This effectively sets up the possibility of Namibia having its first female president.
Geingob's death did not derail this plan.
In his swearing-in speech, Mbumba said he would not be around long, signalling that he would make way for Nandi-Ndaitwah.
He said:
The recently appointed Minister of Information, Communication, and Technology, Emma Theofelus, told journalists that Geingob's memorial services would be the held a few days before his burial on Sunday 18 February, which has been declared a public holiday.
He will be buried at the Heroes’ Acre, just outside Windhoek.
Memorial services will take place at the Windhoek Showgrounds on 12 and 13 February, and at the Namcol Centre in Katutura from 14 to 16 February between 18:00 to 20:00.
The News24 Africa Desk is supported by the Hanns Seidel Foundation. The stories produced through the Africa Desk and the opinions and statements that may be contained herein do not reflect those of the Hanns Seidel Foundation.
