Staff Reporter
NAMIBIAN President, Dr. Hage Geingob, is firing on all health cylinders and since his release from hospital increased his usual hectic schedule to keep Namibia on the international stage.
President Geingob is internationally recognized for bringing Namibia from near isolation ten years ago to one of the more sought after international and continental partners by global leaders.
The coming weekend will see Namibia hosting Cuban president, Miguel Mario Diaz-Canel Bermudez, on a State Visit as guest of honour during the Heroes’ Day celebrations. President Bermudez earlier extended an invitation to Dr. Geingob to attend the G-77 plus China meeting next month in Cuba. Namibian/Cuban friendship predates independence with Cuba instrumental in the liberation struggle, independence and eventually South-African democratization in 1994.
In spite of an American blockade and related hardship, Cuban assistance in various field of human development continued to this day. Namibia is consistently campaigning for the end of the US-blockade against Cuba, while hundreds if not thousands of Namibians obtained qualifications in various disciplines.
The work ethic of Dr. Geingob became legendary since the 1989-elections, which included the writing of the constitution, the transformation of the civil service, the third term campaign and the constitutional amendment for the Father of the Nation, Dr. Sam Nujoma, and the subsequent two term limitations, including his own.
Incidentally, one of Namibia’s foremost post-independence entrepreneurs, Dr. Quinton van Rooyen, also underwent a heart-procedure the same morning that Dr. Geingob was rushed into the theatre. Dr. Van Rooyen in the meantime confirmed the little-known coincidence. “I was honoured that the President and his family visited me in hospital when he was discharged. The Geingob I saw that day was in spite of being decades younger than me in a better shape than me and I am still impressed by his strength, toughness and fitness, but most of all, by his humility”, Dr. van Rooyen said.
Both President Geingob and Dr. van Rooyen could not praise the skills and care of those involved with them enough. “Namibians are in good hands if emergencies arise. A lot is being said, but no praise is enough for the doctors, and the mostly young UNAM nurses who attended to us,” both stressed.
In fact, it also now emerges that Dr. Geingob’s first engagement was an impromptu drive through the Katutura suburb, where he is often seen in his spare time especially over weekends, visiting and engaging with everyday Namibians where his generosity is legendary.
His impromptu engagement with Katutura residents was before preparing and departing for Luanda, where he attended the handing over of the SADC Troika leadership on politics, safety and security. Upon his return to Namibia, he started to prepare for Heroes’ Day celebrations, which will coincide with a State Visit of the Cuban President, one of Namibia’s and the Southern African regions oldest and trusted international allies.
At the 43rd SADC Ordinary Summit in Luanda, Angola, President Geingob assured the region that Namibia would diligently continue to play its role to foster peace and security in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Region.
He also encouraged the Republic of Zimbabwe, the Kingdom of Eswatini, the Republic of Madagascar, and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to conduct their upcoming elections in an environment characterized by peace and stability.
