WASHINGTON D.C. — Namibia’s Ambassador to the United States, Margaret Mensah-Williams, organized a memorial service on Saturday to pay tribute to the late President Hage Geingob, who passed away at the age of 82 in Windhoek last Sunday.
According to Namibia Press Agency, Mensah-Williams highlighted Geingob’s profound impact on both Namibia and the African continent during the ceremony. She praised him as the principal architect of the Namibian constitution and a tireless servant of the nation, who dedicated his life to its liberation.
Mensah-Williams shared with attendees that Geingob’s commitment to education was lifelong, noting his journey abroad for knowledge to ultimately challenge and transform the system at home. Washington D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser echoed these sentiments in her speech, commending Geingob’s dedication to African peoples. Bowser remembered him as a genuine liberation hero and a leader who stood with his people.
The service saw tributes from several embassies, including those of the Russian Federation, Zimbabwe, South Africa, Haiti, Tanzania, Angola, and The Philippines. Chibamba Kanyama, Zambia’s Ambassador to the United States, remarked on Geingob’s significant leadership in aiding the continent’s liberation and quest for economic independence. Zimbabwean Ambassador Tadeous Chifamba lauded Geingob as a Pan-Africanist who was pivotal in Namibia’s liberation, describing him as a towering figure in Africa’s fight against apartheid.
Geingob’s influence was felt across the continent, with many ambassadors expressing how privileged they were to have worked alongside him. The late president will be laid to rest on February 25, 2024, leaving behind a legacy celebrated not just in Namibia, but across Africa and beyond.