Welcoming remarks by Rt. Hon. Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila Prime Minister of the Republic of Namibia at the State Memorial service of the late Dr. H.E Hage G Geingob, Third President of the Republic of Namibia

• H.E. Dr. Nangolo Mbumba, President of the Republic of Namibia and Madame Mbumba, First Lady
• Madame Monica Geingos, Widow, the Children, Grandchildren and the entire bereaved family,
• H.E. Dr. Sam Nujoma, Founding President and Father of the Namibian Nation, and Madame Nujoma,
• H.E. Dr. Hifikepunye Pohamba, Second President and Madame Pohamba,
• Your Excellencies Heads of State and Government and Other Foreign Dignitaries,
• H.E. Dr. Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, Vice President of the Republic of Namibia and of the SWAPO Party, and Lt. Gen. (Rtd) Ndaitwah,
• Hon. Prof. Peter H. Katjavivi, Speaker of the National Assembly,
• Hon. Lukas Sinimbo Muha, Chairperson of the National Council and Madame Muha,
• His Lordship Peter Shivute, Chief Justice and Judge Shivute,
• Hon. John Mutorwa, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Works and Transport, and Madame Mutorwa,
• Honorable Ministers,
• Hon. Sophia Shaningwa, Secretary-General of the SWAPO Party,
• Hon. McHenry Venaani, MP and Leader of the Official Opposition and Madam Venaani,
• Members of Parliament,
• Veterans of the National Liberation Struggle
• Hon. Laura McLeod-Katjirua, Governor of the Khomas Region, and all other Regional Governors present,
• Your Worship Queen Kamati, Mayor of the City of Windhoek, and all other Mayors present,
• Chief Immanuel /Gaseb, Chairperson of the Council of Traditional Leaders, and other present and all other Traditional Leaders present,
• Members of the Diplomatic Corps,
• Distinguished Service Chiefs,
• Bishop Emeritius Dr. Zephania Kameeta, Retired Reverend Bishop and all other Members of the Clergy,
• Fellow Namibians mourners,

Good afternoon!

On the 4th of February 2024, Namibia woke up to the very sad news of the passing on of our President, His Excellency Dr. Hage Gottfried Geingob. Since then the Namibian nation has been grappling with the tremendous pain and sorrow that followed the sudden departure of our President.

The shock of Dr. Geingob’s sudden passing reverberated across the world generating an outpouring of messages of sympathy and expressions of acknowledgment of and appreciation for Dr. Geingob’s outstanding performance in the various capacities that we was entrusted with responsibilities, here at home, on the continent and globally.

Today as we move closer to taking our departed President to his final resting place, we are comforted by the large outturn of mourners from across our country and the globe, who have joined us physically and virtually to memorialize him one last time before we escort him to his final resting place tomorrow.

I would like to recognize and appreciate the presence of Heads of State and Government, Leaders of international organizations and individuals from outside Namibia who are here today, as well as the messages of condolence and other support provided to us during this difficult period of mourning our departed President. Your support has been a source of strength for us.

The Late Dr. Hage G. Geingob’s leadership was shaped by and during the struggle for our nation’s independence which he joined at a youthful age and to which he dedicated his youth. The Leadership of SWAPO as a national liberation party, spotted the exceptional leadership qualities of Dr. Geingob and his passion for serving his people. They therefore mentored him, entrusting him with different important responsibilities all of which he discharged with diligence and commitment.

His tasks ranged from representing SWAPO of Namibia at the UN to mobilize international support for our struggle for independence, heading the United Nation’s Institute for Namibia where Namibian future leaders and administrators were being molded in preparation for self-governance after independence, leading the SWAPO delegation from exile to participate in the UN supervised elections that led to our independence, being the Director of elections for SWAPO, chairing the constituent assembly that authored our Constitution and being the Founding Prime Minister and then our third State President, a task which he performed until the 4th February 2024 when death robbed him from us.

Dr. Geingob built on the foundation set by the Founding President, Dr. Sam Nujoma, the second President and Dr. Hifikepunye Pohamba, who were his mentors and predecessors both at the Party and Government.

It is appropriate at this time to applaud their Excellencies Dr. Sam Nujoma, Founding President and Father of the Namibian Nation, and Dr. Hifikepunye Pohamba, the Second President, who mentored the Late Dr. Hage G. Geingob into these roles and entrusted him with responsibilities that developed his talents, preparing him to be an effective leader that he was.

Although we are deeply saddened by the passing of Dr. Geingob, we are comforted by the knowledge that his legacy will be a source of inspiration for us to continue to strive towards a prosperous and inclusive Namibia that respects the rule of law, democracy and peaceful coexistence with others around the world, values that he cherished.

The words of Bill Gates that “As we look ahead into the next century, leaders will be those who empower others”, best describe Dr. Hage G. Geingob’s belief in talent utilization and his strong pursuit for strong systems, processes and institutions, as pillars of a strong Namibian House. These are the rich inheritance that he leaves for us.

Your Excellencies
Fellow Namibians

Today, as we bid Dr. Geingob fare well, it is befitting that we appreciate the family of Dr. Geingob, for surrounding him to the service of his people and for supporting him in his public duties, and we extend heartfelt sympathies once more to them on his untimely passing.

My name is Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila, the Prime Minister of the Republic of Namibia and I shall serve as Director of Ceremonies, assisted by Honourable Frans Kapofi, the Minister of Defence and Veteran Affairs.

• Your Excellency Dr. Nangolo Mbumba, President of the Republic of Namibia, Commander-in-Chief of the Namibian Defence Force and Chief Mourner, and Madam Mbumba;
• Your Excellency Dr. Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, Vice President of the Republic of Namibia; and Retired Leitenant General Epaphras Denga Ndaitah
• Madam Monica Geingos, widow of our beloved President, the Children and the Bereaved Family.

Since the news of the passing on of our beloved Third President, Late Dr. Hage G. Geingob, as a Nation we have received visits and messages to console the family and the Nation.

At this juncture, allow me to extend and acknowledge with appreciation the following dignitaries who have joined us in celebrating the life of our departed President and to memorialize him. They are as follows:

• Rt. Hon. Mr. Samuel Ntsokoane Matekane, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Lesotho
• H.E. Mr. Patrice Émery Trovoada, Prime Minister of São Tomé & Principé and Spouse
• H.E. Dr. William Ruto, EGH, President of the Republic of Kenya
• H.E. Mr. Hakainde Hichilema, President of the Republic of Zambia and First Lady
• H.E. Dr. Samia Suluhu Hassan, President of the United Republic of Tanzania
• H.E. Mr. Lazarus McCarthy Chakwera, President of the Republic of Malawi
• H.E. General Ėvariste Ndayishimiye, President of the Republic of Burundi and First Lady
• H.E. Mr. Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, President of the Republic of Ghana and First Lady
• H.E. Mr. Fèlix Antoine Tshisekedi Tshilombo, President of the Democratic Republic of Congo
• H.E. Madame Sahle-Work Zewde, President of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia
• H.E. Mr. Julius Maada Bio, President of the Republic of Sierra Leone and First Lady
• H.E. Dr. Mokgweetsi E.K. Masisi, President of the Republic of Botswana and First Lady
• H.E. Mr. Cyril M. Ramaphosa, President of the Republic of South Africa
• H.E. Dr. Emmerson D. Mnangagwa, President of the Republic of Zimbabwe and First Lady
• H.E. Mr. João Manuel Gonçalves Lourenço, President of the Republic of Angola and First Lady
• H.E. Mr. Frank-Walter Steinmeier, President of the Federal Republic of Germany
• H.E. Mr. Filipe Jacinto Nyusi, President of the Republic of Mozambique and First Lady
• H.E. Mr. Sauli Niinistö, President of the Republic of Finland
• His Excellency Mandarapu, High Commissioner of India
• His Excellency Olusegun Obasanjo, Former President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria
• Her Excellency, Amina Mohammed, Deputy Secretary of the United Nations Organization
• Ms. Eunice Ipinge, President, Pan African Women Organization (PAWO)

Having said that, I now continue with the programme.

I thank you.