Speech by the President of the National Assembly of People’s Power of Cuba, Esteban Lazo Hernández, at the posthumous tribute and awarding of the Order of Josè Martí posthumously to H.E. Dr. Hage Gottfried Geingob, Third President of the Republic of Namibia.

1. Director of ceremonies:
2. Your Excellency Mr. Nangolo Mbumba, President of the Republic of Namibia.
3. His Excellency Dr. Sam Nujoma, Founding Father of the Republic of Namibia
4. His Excellency Mr. Hifikepunye Pohamba, Second President of the Republic of Namibia
5. Excellencies Heads of State and Government and Heads of Délégation
6. Her Excellency Mrs. Monica Geingos and her distinguished family
7. Dear Namibian people,

It is with deep sorrow that I convey the most heartfelt and sincere condolences of the Communist Party of Cuba, from the leader of the Revolution Raúl Castro Ruz, from president Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez and from the Cuban Government and people, to SWAPO and to the government and people of the sister Republic of Namibia, on the occasion of the death of its President, His Excellency Dr. Geingob, whose family I extend to you.

In this moment of deep sorrow, allow me to mention a phrase of the National Hero of Cuba, José Martí and I quote: “Death is not true when the work of life has been well accomplished”. End of the quote.

Throughout his fruitful life, dear comrade Geingob amply demonstrated his vocation of sacrifice for his country and for other just causes in the world.

Today we bid farewell to an undisputed African leader since the 1990 inception of independent Namibia on the world political scene. Dr. Geingob passionately defended the right of first South West Africa and then Namibia to forge itself as an independent and sovereign nation, and he vehemently opposed racism and the opprobrious Apartheid regime.

Along with the nation’s Founding Father Dr. Sam Nujoma, the late leader helped cement Namibia’s international projection. by placing it the vanguard group of African nations, against injustice anywhere in the world.

Director of ceremonies

President Nangolo Mbumba

Dignitaries

Cuba, located thousands of kilometers away from Namibia, had the moral obligation to be present at this farewell to one of its most faithful friends in the “land of the brave”, as a verse of the National Anthem of this beautiful country says.

With special affection, Doctor Geingob orked a lasting friendship with the main leaders of the Cuban Revolution, in particular with the Commander in Chief Fidel Castro Ruz, with the leader of the Revolution Raúl Castro Ruz, and with the leader of the Revolution, Raúl Castro Ruz, and in more recent years, with President Miguel Díaz-Canel.

As a SWAPO leader, he visited Cuba and also repeatedly went to the battle front in Angola, where the Popular Armed Forces for the Liberation of Angola, the People’s Liberation Army of Namibia and Cuban internationalist troops were fighting against the South African army of the time.

After his passing, Cuba has payed Cuba has rendered well-deserved and emotional honors to comrade Geingob, who from different political and gubernmental positions exhibited a brave, firm, independent and solitary posture towards Cuban Revolucion, and against the economic siege (sich) imposed for over sixty years. He did it also in order to reduce the consequences of natural disasters and other adverse events that has affected us, in addition of his actions in favor of well-being of our people and for the consolidation of bilateral cooperation in several areas.

The beautiful history that brought together President Geingob and oír country together has earned him the title of endeared friend of the Cuban people and its Revolution, therefore worthy of two of the most important decorations granted by the Republic of Cuba. First as Prime Minister, Fidel bestowed him with the Order of Carlos Manuel de Céspedes. Then in virtue of the Presidential decret law number 452 of July 1rst of 2022, president Miguel Díaz-Canel bestowed him with the National Order of José Martí,  an honor he couldn’t receive in life and of which I’m bearer to deliver to his wife posthumously.

We will never forget our friends and Namibia and Geingob had been among those.

A babab has fallen, but his example will multiply in the young people who embody the future and who will make of Namibia a better country, as he dreamed.

Thank you.