Rédaction Africa Links 24 with Ester Mbathera
Published on 2024-02-21 17:00:00
The upcoming funeral of Namibian president Hage Geingob is set to have nearly the same number of heads of state in attendance as his 2015 inauguration. Geingob, who famously said “This is the day that the Lord has made” during his inauguration, saw 14 heads of state present at the event. His funeral, which is set to take place this weekend, will have 18 heads of state attending, marking a significant international presence. Geingob passed away on 4 February and is expected to be buried on Sunday at Heroes’ Acre in Windhoek.
Some of the presidents who attended Geingob’s 2015 inauguration included then Botswana president Ian Khama, the late Angolan president José Eduardo dos Santos, former Kenyan president Uhuru Kenyetta, former Zambian president Edgar Lungu, then South African deputy president Cyril Ramaphosa, former head of state Thabo Mbeki, and the late Zimbabwean president Robert Mugabe. Some of the names of those who have confirmed attending Geingob’s funeral this weekend include Kenyan president William Ruto, South African president Cyril Ramaphosa, former South African president Thabo Mbeki, Botswana president Mokgweetsi Masisi, Ghanaian president Nana Akufo-Addo and Angolan president João Lourenço.
A total of 27 countries have so far confirmed their attendance, and will be represented by vice presidents, special envoys, prime ministers, speakers of parliament or diplomats. Minister of information and communication technology Emma Theofelus announced this during Geingob’s funeral planning update at the Government Information Centre. She also urged road users to adhere to traffic rules and regulations regarding motorcades to ensure a smooth process for international dignitaries.
Theofelus said Geingob’s body will lie in state, and details would be made available soon. She also dismissed social media posts suggesting that roads around the capital would be closed from tomorrow, and that 650 police officers from Southern African Development Community (SADC) countries have been flown in to assist with the burial.
The state memorial service is expected to take place at Independence Stadium, as it can accommodate more people than Heroes’ Acre. The government hopes that people will attend the memorial service and overflow into Hage Geingob Stadium, which is in close proximity to Independence Stadium.
Vendors are encouraged to sell their goods at designated points at Independence Stadium during the memorial service, and the sale of alcohol is prohibited. Geingob’s casket will be driven through the streets of the capital on Friday as part of a military procession for citizens to say their final goodbyes, and the routes will be announced soon.
Executive director of education, arts and culture Sanet Steenkamp has announced that Friday would be a school holiday, and 15 to 20 pupils from each school are requested to be part of the procession in school uniform. However, there is still no exact budget figure for the expenses incurred during Geingob’s funeral. The Ministry of Works and Transport has informed different government departments that it would hire vehicles to be used by dignitaries attending the funeral. The works ministry also advertised for 40 drivers to transport visitors, and approved drivers will be rendering their service to the nation free of charge.
During the funeral activities, NBC television will live broadcast memorial services, with the bill running into millions. The NBC is mainly funded by the state. The government has also arranged a free concert in the capital for residents as a musical tribute to Geingob, which will see performances by various artists.
Geingob’s relatives from the Otjozondjupa region are expected to travel to the capital, and the family has been holding daily memorial services since 10 February at the home where Geingob was raised. The Otjozondjupa Regional Council chairperson Marlayn Mbakera also confirmed the regional memorial service at Mokati Stadium at Otjiwarongo. Namibian Police inspector general Joseph Shikongo has assured that the police are ready to provide protection to all those attending the events on Saturday and Sunday, with an estimated number of 50,000 people expected to attend the memorial service.
In addition, Ministry of Defence and Veterans Affairs spokesperson Petrus Shilumbu confirmed that a contingent of Zambian soldiers arrived in Windhoek to assist the Namibian Defence Force with Geingob’s funeral. Shilumbu acknowledged that the NDF has its own guidelines on how to bury the president, but lacks experience, and the Zambian soldiers have expertise in military drills, cultural protocols and customs.
As the nation prepares to bid farewell to its leader, the funeral and memorial services are being carefully planned to accommodate dignitaries and citizens alike. With both local and international leaders in attendance, the funeral of Hage Geingob is expected to be a significant event in Namibia’s history.
Read the original article on The Namibian
