Excellency Dr Nangolo Mbumba, President of the Republic of Namibia,
Your Excellencies, Heads of State and Government,
Mrs Monica Geingos, former First Lady, the Children, the Geingob family
Ladies and Gentlemen, fellow Namibians
On behalf of the African Union Commission and the entire African Union family and indeed on my own behalf, I reiterate our deepest condolences to the family and to the Namibian on the passing of this great leader President Dr Hage Gottlieb Geingob.
My dear Brother Hage,
Much has been said about your life, your struggle and your achievements by people who know you better than I do, some of them were your comrades in Struggle and in Life.
I would therefore, like to humbly express what I personally feel, what has marked me the most. It was without any doubt, your humility, integrity and your total commitment to Namibia and to Africa's great causes: Unity, Integration, Peace and Prosperity. Agenda 2063, the African Union’s development Agenda which you helped to draw up, was always a blueprint for you.
During my two visits to Namibia as Chairperson of the African Union Commission, where you formally received me as Head of State, the African Union flag and anthem that you imposed on Namibia’s public life, symbolised your unwavering commitment to pan-Africanism.
A seasoned diplomat and brilliant academic, you carried Swapo's flag high in Africa, Europe and the Americas. You also had a lucid vision of international relations and multilateralism. I personally benefited from your sound advice on a large number of issues to that end.
Namibians are in the best position to appreciate what you have achieved in your country. The passing of the baton and the peaceful transfer of power following your passing, confirms, if any further confirmation were needed, the strength of the institutions and the anchoring of democracy in this beautiful country, the Namibian house that you helped build. A model that we hope and pray will become a reality on the rest of the Continent, particularly now when anti-constitutional changes of government are flourishing on the Continent.
Mme Monica Geingos, my dear Sister, no words can fill the void left by our brother Hage, your husband, your best friend, and your partner. But I know that you are strong enough to keep his memory alive by continuing the work of African renaissance that he began.
To you my Namibian brothers and Sisters, be proud of your country, be proud of your leader you just lost. At the African Union, we are immensely proud of him.
To you, my brother Hage, may the land of your ancestors, where you were born, welcome you to eternal rest. Dear Brother, rest in peace!
Thank you very much.
