Namibian President Hage Geingob is seen during a joint press conference with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa (not visible) during his state visit to South Africa at the Union Buildings in Pretoria on April 20, 2023. (Photo by Phill Magakoe / AFP) (Photo by PHILL MAGAKOE/AFP via Getty Images)
By Vitalio Angula
At the Premiere of her Documentary, Lead from Where You Are, Monica Geingos, the Third First Lady of Namibia, mentioned how her late husband, Hage Geingob, often referred to himself as a Scholar, Political Scientist, Economist, Analyst, and politician.
Many would agree that the late President wore all these hats; and many more would agree that Geingob was not only a Statesman par excellence but also a philosopher of note, whose speeches, edicts, and rebuffs provided journalists with their much-needed headlines.
As Chairperson of the Constituent Assembly, tasked with drafting Namibia’s Constitution in 1989, Geingob repeatedly stressed the importance of constitutional supremacy, checks and balances, and the establishment of institutions that would outlive individuals.
On 21 March 2015, during his inauguration as Namibia’s Head of State, President Hage Geingob canonised the phrase, “Institutions, Systems, and Processes”, not only as a governance philosophy but as a presidential doctrine.
The idea of Institutions, Systems, and Processes became the state’s moral and administrative language.
Ministers echoed it, civil servants invoked it, critics argued within its framework, students and the citizenry quoted it!
Geingob the Philosopher
Politicians are remembered for their decisions and leadership, whereas philosophers are remembered for the language they use to communicate truths and the quotes they leave behind.
“Namibia is a child of international solidarity, born out of struggle and midwifed by the United Nations”, is a timeless quote thatembodies Geingob as a teacher amongst his contemporaries.
A teacher who used language as a tool to communicate knowledge in a timeless, universal, abstract manner.
By using metaphors and euphemisms, Geingob was able to bring his words to life in an inclusive manner where his audience, whether nobleman or commoner, could listen, learn and understand.
Post-colonial states like Namibia need a narrative to establish an identity as much as they need policies for effective governance.
When Geingob proclaimed, “We all live in the Namibian House in which no one should feel left out”, he spoke with the confidence of someone who had waited a long time to articulate his image of Namibia.
The time he spent in exile, as a senior figure in SWAPO, the politics of the Namibian Liberation Struggle, and his “delayed” ascendence to the Presidency shaped his voice, a voice of inspiration, teachings, recollections of history and rebukes!
Every time Hage spoke, he left you with an endearing quote!
“I am older than your mother”, “People do not eat democracy”, “Is he guilty, do I sleep with him? “
These are but some of the quotes attributed to Geingob rebutting his detractors.
“It is easy to destroy, but not easy to build”, “We make peace with our enemies, not with our friends, “Namibia was not born out of civil war, it was born out of international law”, are cautions and warnings by Geingob to not take peace for granted.
Namibians of all creeds, colours and denominations joined the Geingob family at the National Shrine, the Heroes Acre, on Saturday, 7 February to commemorate the second anniversary of the death of the third President of the Republic.
Some remembered him for his statesmanship, others for his impeccable sense of style and tailored suits.
Some remembered him for his commanding stature, and others for his contribution to state formation and the building of the Namibian House.
Many more remembered him as the man who said, “exclusivity spells conflict and inclusivity spells harmony; tribalism, racism and regionalism do not have a place in any society and are a recipe for disaster”.
- Vitalio Angula is a socio-political commentator and independent columnist
