Namibia’s President Hage Geingob has passed on at the age of 82 while receiving medical treatment at a hospital in the country’s capital, Windhoek.
A tested warhorse of the country’s independence struggle, Mr Geingob had been diagnosed of cancer and he revealed the details to the public in January this year.
He died early on Sunday with his wife and children by his side, Vice-President Nangolo Mbumba announced.
Namibia “has lost… a distinguished servant of the people,” he said.
According to the constitution,
Mr Mbumba will now act as president with less than a year left for Mr Geingob’s second term in office. Presidential and parliamentary elections had already been scheduled for November.
It is not yet clear what caused the president’s death but last month he underwent “a two-day novel treatment for cancerous cells” in the US before flying back home on 31 January, his office had said.
Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and other leaders from around the world have been sending condolence messages.
Tinubu in a condolence message, described Geingob’s death as a painful loss of a veteran in the struggle for democracy; proponent of good governance, and advocate of economic, social, and political solidarity among African people.
Also, Cyril Ramaphosa, president of neighbouring South Africa, described him as “a towering veteran of Namibia’s liberation from colonialism and apartheid.”
In a statement by Chief Ajuri Ngelale, Special Adviser to Tinubu on Media & Publicity, he said, “On behalf of the government and people of Nigeria, President Bola Tinubu extends deep condolences to the government and people of Namibia over the passing of His Excellency, President Hage Geingob.
“President Tinubu mourns the painful loss of this veteran in the struggle for democracy; proponent of good governance, and advocate of economic, social, and political solidarity among African peoples.
“The President notes that this tragedy comes at a time when Africa needs more visionary leaders who believe in the common destiny of the continent, and who can strengthen bonds across borders and spread the tendrils of cooperation across all fields of human endeavour.
“As Namibia mourns, President Tinubu assures the Republic that his thoughts and prayers, and indeed those of Nigerians, are with them.”
