Namibia’s president, Hage Geingob, passed away early on Sunday at a Windhoek hospital, as announced by the presidential office.
Geingob, who was first elected president in 2014 and was serving his second term, held the record as Namibia’s longest-serving prime minister and third president.
His death comes as the country prepares for upcoming presidential and national assembly elections later in the year.
In January, President Geingob had disclosed that he was undergoing treatment for cancer, following the discovery of “cancerous cells” during a routine medical check-up.
“It is with utmost sadness and regret that I inform you that our beloved Dr Hage G Geingob, the president of the republic of Namibia has passed on today,” said a statement on Sunday from the acting president, Nangolo Mbumba.
“At his side, was his dear wife Madame Monica Geingos and his children.”
In 2013, Geingob underwent brain surgery, and in 2023, he underwent an aortic operation in neighboring South Africa. His medical care continued at Lady Pohamba Hospital in Windhoek until his passing.
“The Namibian nation has lost a distinguished servant of the people, a liberation struggle icon, the chief architect of our constitution and the pillar of the Namibian house,” said Mbumba.
“At this moment of deepest sorrow, I appeal to the nation to remain calm and collected while the Government attends to all necessary state arrangements, preparations and other protocols.”
He announced that the cabinet would promptly assemble to initiate the necessary state arrangements.
Hage Geingob, born in a village in northern Namibia in 1941, made history as the first president outside the Ovambo ethnic group, which constitutes over half of the country’s population. Engaging in activism against South Africa’s apartheid regime during his early schooling, Geingob was eventually forced into exile.
Spending nearly three decades in Botswana and the US, he transitioned from the former to the latter in 1964. Throughout his time in the US, he staunchly advocated for Namibia’s independence, representing the liberation movement, Swapo, at the UN and across the Americas.
Upon Swapo’s victory in the 1990 elections, Geingob assumed the role of prime minister, holding the position for 12 years before returning to it in 2012. In 2014, following another successful election for Swapo, Geingob became president.
Despite facing challenges such as a recession, high unemployment, and corruption allegations during his first term, Geingob managed to secure a second term in 2019, although his share of the vote declined.
His presidency was marked by the “fish rot” scandal, where WikiLeaks documents suggested government officials accepted bribes from an Icelandic firm for continued access to Namibia’s fishing grounds. Geingob faced criticism for contributing to a bloated administration and awarding contracts to foreign companies.
Throughout his political career, Geingob held various ministerial and internal party positions. Health issues, including brain surgery in 2013 and heart valve surgery in South Africa in June 2023, marked his later years.
Known for his passion for football, Geingob played in his youth, earning him the nickname “Danger Point.” He married three times (in 1967, 1993, and 2015) and had several children.
“The drum, it is the heartbeat, and the bass, it is the backbone,” Barrett once said. “If the bass is not right, the music is gonna have a bad back, so it would be crippled.”