Staff Reporter
PRESIDENT Nangolo Mbumba concluded his working visit to Botswana with a special tribute at a memorial service in the country’s capital city, Gaborone, in honour of late President Hage Geingob. President Mbumba arrived in Gaborone on Tuesday and held bilateral talks with his Botswana counterpart, Mokgweetsi Masisi.
President Mbumba’s visit aimed to introduce himself as Namibia’s fourth President following the untimely passing of the third President, Dr. Hage Geingob. He thanked President Masisi for the exceptional emotional and material assistance Botswana provided to Namibia during the difficult period of mourning.
President Mbumba praised President Masisi and his wife, Madame Neo Masisi, for their prompt visits to console Madame Monica Geingos, the children, the bereaved family, and Namibians at large upon hearing about the passing of President Geingob.
Further, President Mbumba underscored Botswana’s historical assistance to Namibians, beginning with the period of the 1904 German genocide in Namibia, when Botswana became a safe place of refuge for Namibians who escaped the German atrocities. “Later, during the war for the liberation of Namibia,” President Mbumba said, “Botswana also hosted many Namibians and SWAPO freedom fighters who sought refuge in the country.”
The President recalled his own journey into exile in 1965 as a freedom fighter, including how Botswana served as a safe passage. He emphasized that the partnership between Namibia and Botswana had grown stronger over the years due to the special friendship between President Geingob and President Masisi.
“In honouring President Geingob with a special memorial service in Gaborone,” Mbumba said, “President Masisi and the Batswana had gone the extra mile, a gesture highly appreciated by Namibians and a clear testimony of the excellent relationship President Masisi had forged over the years with his dear elder brother, President Geingob.”
President Mbumba applauded the Government of Botswana and President Masisi for holding a memorial service in honour of President Geingob. He also mentioned that the date of the 2nd Botswana-Namibia binational commission meeting will take place in Namibia, although the date has yet to be agreed upon.
Water, railway construction, and agriculture will continue to enjoy priority for the shared prosperity of the two nations, President Mbumba noted. He concluded by stating, “Relations between Namibia and Botswana are so good, and we have to do the right things at all times.”
President Mbumba returned to Namibia on Wednesday.
