Africa-Press – Botswana. President, Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi and the people of Botswana have been commended for paying a special tribute by organising a memorial service detailing the rich history of the late President Hage Geingob of Namibia.
Speaking at a memorial service in Gaborone on yesterday, President of Namibia, Dr Nangolo Mbumba said the memorial service was a fitting tribute to a leader who believed in the power of holding hands and pulling together in the same direction.
He said Dr Geingob, the founding Prime Minister, third President of Namibia and the third President of the SWAPO was acknowledged for stellar contributions in favour of a peaceful and prosperous Africa.
He said the memory of President Geingob must continue to inspire leaders and strengthen friendship between nations.
Dr Mbumba said President Masisi was the first President to visit Dr Geingob after he underwent an operation last year.
He said the gestures of consolation from President Masisi and First Lady Neo and Batswana were deeply appreciated by Namibians. “They demonstrate the solid bond of friendship existing between our two nations and are a testament to the special friendship that you forged with President Geingob,” he said.
“We are here to memorialise his life in the beautiful city of Gaborone, a city that symbolises resistance and the strength of collaboration through the Southern African Development Community (SADC),” he said.
He said it was in Botswana where Dr Geingob started his journey into exile as a SWAPO freedom fighter in December 1962.
He recollected how Dr Geingob narrowly escaped Apartheid South Africa engineered explosion on a plane he was supposed to board in order to join other SWAPO leaders in Tanzania.“In that vein, Botswana was not only a place of refuge for Dr Geingob, but he also encountered luck under difficult circumstances,” he said.
President Mbumba said Dr Geingob left Botswana in 1963 to become Chief Representative of SWAPO to the United Nations and the Americas, recalling his first meeting with Dr Geingob in New York in February 1967.
“I saw first-hand how he embraced all Namibians in exile, irrespective of their ethnic or racial origin or their political convictions. Already then, he was a leader and a unifier,” he said. He said since Namibia gained independence on March 21, 1990, the late Dr Geingob spared no effort to work for the improvement of the lives of the Namibian people.
He added that Dr Geingob leaves Namibia in a much better shape than the one he found upon his return from exile.
Dr Mbumba said President Masisi had a remarkable and brotherly relationship with an exceptional Namibian, Dr Geingob, a leader who symbolised unity, dedication and care for fellow human beings.
“As his Vice President for over six years, I can assure you that Dr Geingob was proud of his special friendship with you,” he said.
He said Dr Masisi and the late Dr Geingob were Pan-Africanists, who had a lot in common. He said the duo had many dreams for Namibia and Botswana of which one of them was realised and you being the launch of the use of Identity Documents (IDs) as travel documents between Namibia and Botswana.
He also said the ground-breaking initiative facilitated trade in goods and services, including the movement of people.
“As we mourn the passing of President Geingob, we must emulate and celebrate the values of good neighbourliness and unity he championed. Let us draw inspiration from his exemplary legacy as we continue the journey towards a better future for the people of Botswana and Namibia,” said President Mbumba
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