Africa-Press – Botswana. The late President, Dr Hage Geingob, of Namibia was a true friend of Botswana who understood the role that the country has played in his nation’s liberation struggle and worked towards strengthening bilateral ties between the two states.
This was said by President Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi at the Memorial Service held in honour of Dr Geingob at the Independence Stadium in Windhoek, Namibia on Saturday.
President Masisi said while there were many in Southern Africa who did not have proper appreciation of Botswana’s role in Southern African liberation, the late Namibian leader had better understanding.
Botswana, which attained independence as a highly underdeveloped state surrounded by hostile white minority regimes, apartheid South Africa, Rhodesia (Zimbabwe) and South West Africa (Namibia), in a region that also had Portuguese ruled Angola and Mozambique fighting wars of independence, had to balance between economic reliance on such militarily stronger neighbours, and offering support to indigenous people seeking freedom.
President Masisi said Dr Geingob had a good understanding of Botswana’s position during the regional struggle having lived in exile in Botswana and would recall during their interactions, his early days of political involvement living at a house in Francistown.
“While some are not as informed about the sacrifices Batswana made to the liberation struggle in our sub-region, in Dr Geingob, I found a man who understood and sympathised with our unenviable position which was right in the belly of the beast,” the President said.
He added that as statesmen, they found common ground on improving bilateral ties and communicating similar positions on global issues in international fora, owing to their shared values.
“Dr Geingob and I shared a common vision and an unwavering determination to achieve higher levels of development for our peoples. His remarkable statesmanship endeared him to many globally. He was a true Pan Africanist and genuine believer in multilateralism,” he said.
He added that President Geingob would be remembered for the bilateral agreement they signed last year to allow Botswana and Namibia citizens to use national identity cards to cross the border between the two countries.
President Masisi and his delegation were among multitudes of mourners that included heads of state and government and other dignitaries from the sub-region, continent and beyond, who attended Saturday’s memorial service and the Sunday burial.
The President’s delegation included Ms Neo Masisi, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr Lemogang Kwape and Minister of Transport and Public Works, Mr Eric Molale.
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