Namibia’s President Hage Geingob has passed away at the age of 82 while undergoing medical treatment in a hospital in the capital, Windhoek. He had been diagnosed with cancer and revealed his condition to the public just last month.
A veteran of Namibia’s independence struggle, Mr. Geingob died early on Sunday with his wife and children by his side. Vice-President Nangolo Mbumba announced his passing and has since been sworn in as his replacement. Mr. Mbumba will serve as president until elections scheduled for later this year.
Hage Geingob first took office as president in 2015, having served in top political positions since Namibia gained independence in 1990. His death has received tributes from leaders around the world, with many acknowledging his role in securing Namibia’s freedom.
Mr. Geingob, a member of the Swapo party, spent 27 years in exile, living in Botswana, the US, and the UK, where he studied for a Ph.D. in politics before returning to Namibia in 1989, a year before the country gained independence. He was the country’s longest-serving prime minister, in office for 12 years from 1990 and for a shorter stint in 2012.
When he first became president in 2015, Mr. Geingob already faced declining popularity, with his first-term coinciding with a stagnant economy, high levels of unemployment, and poverty. The ruling party, Swapo, had chosen Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah as its presidential candidate for the upcoming elections, and she has now been appointed vice-president. She will become Namibia’s first female president if successful.
The passing of Hage Geingob marks the end of an era for Namibia, bringing an opportunity for the country to move into a new chapter of leadership and development. His legacy as a freedom fighter, a visionary leader, and a unifier will be remembered by the people of Namibia and the global community.