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Namibia Mourns Geingob, Welcomes Mbumba as Interim President
Namibia was plunged into mourning after the sudden passing of President Hage Geingob on Sunday, just hours after his Vice President, Nangolo Mbumba, announced the news. Geingob, a towering figure in the nation’s independence struggle, succumbed to cancer at the age of 82.
Mbumba, a veteran politician himself, has been sworn in as interim president and will serve until elections later this year. He paid tribute to his predecessor, calling him a “liberation icon” and praising his role in ensuring Namibia’s stability and constitutional order.
Geingob’s legacy is complex. He led the country to independence in 1990 and served as its first Prime Minister for 12 years before becoming president in 2015. While lauded for his contributions to freedom, his later years were marked by economic stagnation, rising poverty, and corruption scandals, leading to a decline in popularity.
Despite the challenges, Geingob is remembered fondly by many for his jovial personality, visionary leadership, and commitment to reconciliation. Tributes have poured in from around the world, including from South African President Cyril Ramaphosa who called him a “towering veteran” of the liberation struggle.
Mbumba, taking the mantle in a somber moment, assured the nation of continued stability and vowed to uphold Geingob’s legacy. He has already appointed Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah as vice president, paving the way for her to become the country’s first female leader if she wins the upcoming elections.
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