Namibian President Hage G. Geingob passes away

Windhoek: Namibia is in mourning as President Hage G. Geingob, who battled cancer, passed away early Sunday in a Windhoek hospital. The sad announcement was made by the Namibian presidential office, as reported by Xinhua news agency.

Acting President Nangolo Mbumba expressed profound sadness in a statement on the official social media account of the Namibian Presidency. “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 passed on today, Sunday 4 February 2024, at around 00h04 at Lady Pohamba Hospital where he was receiving medical treatment from his medical team.”

Geingob, who served as Namibia’s third president since March 21, 2015, and secured re-election for another five-year term in 2019, had a distinguished political career. He also held the position of prime minister during 1990-2002 and 2012-2015, in addition to various key ministerial roles.

Despite the efforts of his medical team to ensure his recovery, Geingob’s health sadly deteriorated. The statement referred to him as a “distinguished servant of the people, a liberation struggle icon, the chief architect of our constitution, and the pillar of the Namibian house.”

The Namibian nation is urged to “remain calm and collected while the government attends to all necessary state arrangements, preparations, and other protocols.”

The presidency had announced on January 19 that cancerous cells were discovered following a biopsy examination. President Geingob’s passing marks the end of an era for Namibia, as the nation remembers and mourns a leader who played a significant role in shaping its history.