Namibia gets interim president after Geingob’s death

Nangolo Mbumba has been sworn in as Namibia’s interim president after Hage Geingob died in office.

Mbumba took over on Sunday hours after Geingob’s death was announced.

“It is poignant and reassuring to note that today, even in this time of heavy loss, our nation remains calm and stable,” Mbumba said during his swearing in.

“This is owing to the visionary leadership … of president Geingob who was the chief architect of the Namibian constitution.”

Geingob became president in 2015, the same year he announced he had survived prostate cancer. He was was serving his second and final term in office.

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The cause of his death has not been made public but late last month the presidency said he had travelled to the United States for “a two-day novel treatment for cancerous cells”, after being diagnosed following a regular medical check-up.

Geingob was born in 1941, and became a prominent politician even before Namibia achieved independence from white minority-ruled South Africa in 1990.

In 2007, he served as vice president of the governing South West Africa People’s Organisation (SWAPO).

He had joined the organisation as an agitator for independence when Namibia was still known as South West Africa.

Nangolo Mbumba said he won’t be running for president later this year and that means Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, who is now serving as vice president will still run for president.

Acceptance Speech by His Excellency President Dr. Nangolo Mbumba, 4 February 2024

Fellow Namibians.

I accept with humility, the noble assignment bestowed upon me, that of appointment as the President of the Republic of Namibia, in accordance with Article 29 read together with… pic.twitter.com/OaOZKxvIRC

— Namibian Presidency (@NamPresidency) February 4, 2024

She was nominated by the governing South West Africa People’s Organisation (SWAPO) just over a year ago to be its candidate.