Africa-Press – Angola. The President of Namibia, Hage Geingob, paid tribute, this Friday (16), in Luanda, to the former Angolan Head of State, José Eduardo dos Santos, bowing before his urn, deposited in the tomb with his name, located in Praça da República, adjacent to the António Agostinho Neto Memorial.
The Namibian statesman, who was in the country to participate in the investiture ceremony of the President of the Republic, João Lourenço, and of the Vice-President of the Republic, Esperança da Costa, went to the place in the morning, accompanied by several members of his delegation.
In brief statements to the press, at the end, Hage Geingob made it known that he had a relationship of comradeship with former President José Eduardo dos Santos, which is why he said he should not leave the country without paying him due homage.
“José Eduardo dos Santos was my personal friend, my leader and he did a lot for me during the period of turmoil in my political life”, revealed the President of Namibia, clarifying that he did not attend his state funeral, held this year, on the day August 28, his birthday, for health reasons.
“I wasn’t available to attend his funeral because I had some medical appointments to make,” he said.
Hage Geingob said that, despite being a very reserved person and of few words, José Eduardo dos Santos was a “great African leader”, who contributed a lot to the Independence of his country.
“Big changes took place in Southern Africa during his term”, he recalled. He highlighted that, after taking power, as a result of the death of Agostinho Neto, José Eduardo dos Santos embraced the struggle in Namibia, encouraging his people to fight for their release.
“He gave us land and, therefore, we owe him great appreciation, including the Angolan people”, he stressed.
Hage Geingob pointed out that many leaders, like him, are known to speak little, but even so, in his silence, he helped countries like Namibia, South Africa and the African continent itself, in general.
“Those who shared the same thinking know that he contributes a lot in his peaceful way,” he clarified.
“I am very pleased that the Angolan Government grants me this opportunity to pay my last respects, because I have great respect for him”, concluded Hage Geingob, remembering that he met José Eduardo dos Santos through Sam Nujoma, the first President from Namibia.
José Eduardo dos Santos died on the 8th of July of this year, in Barcelona, Spain, due to illness. The State funeral took place on August 28, his birthday, in Luanda, with the presence of the President of the Republic, João Lourenço, the First Lady of the Republic, Ana Dias Lourenço, and several Heads of State.
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