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Namibia's new President Nangolo Mbumba with Vice President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah
Photo: REUTERS
After the death of Namibian President Hage Geingob, his former deputy Nangolo Mbumba was sworn in as the African country's new president. Mbumba said in the capital Windhoek that he was aware of the responsibility that this important office entails. He will serve the people of Namibia with “the greatest dedication.”
The politician from the ruling party, the South West African People's Organization (SWAPO), has already held various positions, including as finance and education minister. Former deputy prime minister Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah was sworn in as his vice president. She is the first woman to hold this position.
Geingob died early Sunday morning in a hospital in Windhoek, Mbumba announced on social media. He was 82 years old. "The Namibian nation has lost an outstanding servant of the people, an icon of the liberation struggle, the leading architect of our constitution and the pillar of the Namibian house," Mbumba said in his statement. Geingob was the country's third president and had been in office since 2015. Parliamentary and presidential elections are scheduled for November in Namibia. Until then, Mbumba will take over the official duties as head of state.
His wife Monica and his children were at his side in the hospital, the statement said. Geingob was treated at the private hospital in the Namibian capital after doctors discovered cancer cells during a biopsy. The presidential office announced on February 1 that Geingob had returned from the USA, where he had received a “novel treatment against cancer cells”.
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa said Namibia had lost an "extraordinary leader." "President Geingob was an outstanding veteran of Namibia's liberation from colonialism and apartheid." Referring to Namibia's support during South Africa's freedom struggle against the white minority government, he added: Geingob "was also very influential in terms of the solidarity shown by the Namibian people to the South African people so that we too can be free today." South Africa is grateful to Geingob and full of sadness at his death, Ramaphosa added.
faq/dpa