Death of an icon

Dr. Hage Geingob dies aged 82
Jemima Beukes
President Hage Geingob’s death has provoked mixed reactions from Namibians and political leaders around the world.

Geingob was both revered and reviled during his time as president, but in death, Namibians have united to mourn their leader. He was the chief architect of the Namibian Constitution after chairing the Constituent Assembly, which crafted the country’s primary legal instrument.

Namibians woke up on Sunday, 4 February, to the news of Geingob’s death following a battle with cancer. Since then, the mood across the country has been sombre, with messages of condolence pouring in from all over the world. Geingob has largely been praised for broadening transparency and accountability within government ranks, especially after declaring his assets when he became president.

Most of his life has been dedicated to public service. From playing a crucial role in delivering Namibia’s independence to holding public office in post-independent Namibia for more than three decades, his contribution to Namibia’s vibrant democracy is self-evident.



Smooth transition

Nangolo Mbumba, Namibia's former vice-president, was on Sunday afternoon sworn in as the new president - until the next elections, as stipulated by the Namibian Constitution.

At his inauguration, he emphasised that he is merely fulfilling his duty as stipulated in the constitution, which requires him, as right-hand man, to finish Geingob’s term. “I am not going to be around for the elections, so don’t panic if you are already telling yourself stories. I will be serving you for the remainder of Geingob’s term of office. Let us understand and support one another,” he said.

At the same occasion, Mbumba appointed Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, the former minister of international relations and deputy prime minister, as vice-president.



Looking back

Born on 3 August 1941 in Otjiwarongo, Geingob's early years were marked by protests against an unjust education system during the apartheid era, leading to his expulsion from Augustineum Training College in 1960.

He then left Namibia for the United States for studies and later served as Namibia's representative at the United Nations, playing a significant role in mobilising international support for Swapo. He returned to his motherland in 1989, when Swapo won the country’s first elections, leading to its independence from South Africa’s apartheid government.



Legacy

Throughout his political career, Geingob held key positions - including prime minister and minister of trade and industry - and in 2014, he was elected as Namibia's president, securing a second term in 2019 - despite being implicated in the Fishrot bribery scandal.

According to analysts, Geingob leaves behind a mixed legacy – that of a beloved individual and a president who will be remembered for skyrocketing unemployment and an economy in tatters. Political analyst Ndumba Kamwanyah said Geingob "will be remembered as a towering figure of Namibia’s liberation struggle and someone who pressed the issue of Namibia's independence at the United Nations”.

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Katima Mulilo: 19° | 36° Rundu: 19° | 37° Eenhana: 18° | 37° Oshakati: 18° | 36° Ruacana: 18° | 36° Tsumeb: 24° | 35° Otjiwarongo: 18° | 34° Omaruru: 17° | 34° Windhoek: 18° | 31° Gobabis: 19° | 33° Henties Bay: 12° | 18° Wind speed: 21km/h, Wind direction: W, Low tide: 07:34, High tide: 13:58, Low Tide: 20:05, High tide: 02:00 Swakopmund: 13° | 15° Wind speed: 28km/h, Wind direction: W, Low tide: 07:32, High tide: 13:56, Low Tide: 20:03, High tide: 02:00 Walvis Bay: 12° | 19° Wind speed: 28km/h, Wind direction: W, Low tide: 07:32, High tide: 13:55, Low Tide: 20:03, High tide: 02:00 Rehoboth: 18° | 33° Mariental: 20° | 35° Keetmanshoop: 17° | 32° Aranos: 20° | 36° Lüderitz: 12° | 19° Ariamsvlei: 19° | 34° Oranjemund: 13° | 21° Luanda: 24° | 26° Gaborone: 16° | 28° Lubumbashi: 19° | 35° Mbabane: 9° | 20° Maseru: 9° | 26° Antananarivo: 13° | 30° Lilongwe: 19° | 23° Maputo: 15° | 26° Windhoek: 18° | 31° Cape Town: 15° | 26° Durban: 14° | 19° Johannesburg: 14° | 23° Dar es Salaam: 24° | 30° Lusaka: 18° | 29° Harare: 16° | 21° Currency: GBP to NAD 22.96 | EUR to NAD 19.17 | CNY to NAD 2.47 | USD to NAD 17.58 | DZD to NAD 0.13 | AOA to NAD 0.02 | BWP to NAD 1.27 | EGP to NAD 0.35 | KES to NAD 0.14 | NGN to NAD 0.01 | ZMW to NAD 0.65 | ZWL to NAD 0.04 | BRL to NAD 3.13 | RUB to NAD 0.18 | INR to NAD 0.21 | USD to DZD 132.85 | USD to AOA 909.05 | USD to BWP 13.33 | USD to EGP 48.5 | USD to KES 128.5 | USD to NGN 1625.33 | USD to ZAR 17.58 | USD to ZMW 26.55 | USD to ZWL 321 | Stock Exchange: JSE All Share Index Same 0 | Namibian Stock Exchange (NSX) Overall Index 1860.17 Up +0.28% | Casablanca Stock Exchange (CSE) MASI 14048.66 Down -0.38% | Egyptian Exchange (EGX) 30 Index 30273.06 Up +1.06% | Botswana Stock Exchange (BSE) DCI Same 0 | NSX: MTC 7.75 SAME | Anirep 8.99 SAME | Capricorn Investment group 17.34 SAME | FirstRand Namibia Ltd 49 DOWN 0.50% | Letshego Holdings (Namibia) Ltd 4.1 UP 2.50% | Namibia Asset Management Ltd 0.7 SAME | Namibia Breweries Ltd 31.49 UP 0.03% | Nictus Holdings - Nam 2.22 SAME | Oryx Properties Ltd 12.1 UP 1.70% | Paratus Namibia Holdings 11.99 SAME | SBN Holdings 8.45 SAME | Trustco Group Holdings Ltd 0.48 SAME | B2Gold Corporation 47.34 DOWN 1.50% | Local Index closed 677.62 UP 0.12% | Overall Index closed 1534.6 DOWN 0.05% | Osino Resources Corp 19.47 DOWN 2.41% | Commodities: Gold US$ 2 651.88/OZ UP +0.09% | Copper US$ 4.35/lb DOWN -0.0079 | Zinc US$ 3 026.80/T DOWN -2.08% | Brent Crude Oil US$ 74.79/BBP DOWN -0.0085 | Platinum US$ 983.87/OZ DOWN -0.0083 Sport results: Weather: Katima Mulilo: 19° | 36° Rundu: 19° | 37° Eenhana: 18° | 37° Oshakati: 18° | 36° Ruacana: 18° | 36° Tsumeb: 24° | 35° Otjiwarongo: 18° | 34° Omaruru: 17° | 34° Windhoek: 18° | 31° Gobabis: 19° | 33° Henties Bay: 12° | 18° Wind speed: 21km/h, Wind direction: W, Low tide: 07:34, High tide: 13:58, Low Tide: 20:05, High tide: 02:00 Swakopmund: 13° | 15° Wind speed: 28km/h, Wind direction: W, Low tide: 07:32, High tide: 13:56, Low Tide: 20:03, High tide: 02:00 Walvis Bay: 12° | 19° Wind speed: 28km/h, Wind direction: W, Low tide: 07:32, High tide: 13:55, Low Tide: 20:03, High tide: 02:00 Rehoboth: 18° | 33° Mariental: 20° | 35° Keetmanshoop: 17° | 32° Aranos: 20° | 36° Lüderitz: 12° | 19° Ariamsvlei: 19° | 34° Oranjemund: 13° | 21° Luanda: 24° | 26° Gaborone: 16° | 28° Lubumbashi: 19° | 35° Mbabane: 9° | 20° Maseru: 9° | 26° Antananarivo: 13° | 30° Lilongwe: 19° | 23° Maputo: 15° | 26° Windhoek: 18° | 31° Cape Town: 15° | 26° Durban: 14° | 19° Johannesburg: 14° | 23° Dar es Salaam: 24° | 30° Lusaka: 18° | 29° Harare: 16° | 21° Economic Indicators: Currency: GBP to NAD 22.96 | EUR to NAD 19.17 | CNY to NAD 2.47 | USD to NAD 17.58 | DZD to NAD 0.13 | AOA to NAD 0.02 | BWP to NAD 1.27 | EGP to NAD 0.35 | KES to NAD 0.14 | NGN to NAD 0.01 | ZMW to NAD 0.65 | ZWL to NAD 0.04 | BRL to NAD 3.13 | RUB to NAD 0.18 | INR to NAD 0.21 | USD to DZD 132.85 | USD to AOA 909.05 | USD to BWP 13.33 | USD to EGP 48.5 | USD to KES 128.5 | USD to NGN 1625.33 | USD to ZAR 17.58 | USD to ZMW 26.55 | USD to ZWL 321 | Stock Exchange: JSE All Share Index Same 0 | Namibian Stock Exchange (NSX) Overall Index 1860.17 Up +0.28% | Casablanca Stock Exchange (CSE) MASI 14048.66 Down -0.38% | Egyptian Exchange (EGX) 30 Index 30273.06 Up +1.06% | Botswana Stock Exchange (BSE) DCI Same 0 | NSX: MTC 7.75 SAME | Anirep 8.99 SAME | Capricorn Investment group 17.34 SAME | FirstRand Namibia Ltd 49 DOWN 0.50% | Letshego Holdings (Namibia) Ltd 4.1 UP 2.50% | Namibia Asset Management Ltd 0.7 SAME | Namibia Breweries Ltd 31.49 UP 0.03% | Nictus Holdings - Nam 2.22 SAME | Oryx Properties Ltd 12.1 UP 1.70% | Paratus Namibia Holdings 11.99 SAME | SBN Holdings 8.45 SAME | Trustco Group Holdings Ltd 0.48 SAME | B2Gold Corporation 47.34 DOWN 1.50% | Local Index closed 677.62 UP 0.12% | Overall Index closed 1534.6 DOWN 0.05% | Osino Resources Corp 19.47 DOWN 2.41% | Commodities: Gold US$ 2 651.88/OZ UP +0.09% | Copper US$ 4.35/lb DOWN -0.0079 | Zinc US$ 3 026.80/T DOWN -2.08% | Brent Crude Oil US$ 74.79/BBP DOWN -0.0085 | Platinum US$ 983.87/OZ DOWN -0.0083