By Andreas Hailenge
Windhoek – Following the unexpected death of President Hage Geingon early on Sunday, the Namibian Cabinet promptly appointed former Vice President Nangolo Mbumba as head of state.
Mbumba, who was sworn in at State House by Chief Justice Peter Shivute, said he accepted the responsibility with humility.
“I accept with humility the noble assignment bestowed upon me, that of appointment as the President of the Republic of Namibia, by Article 29 read together with Article 34 of the Namibian Constitution. take on this heavy mantle, cognisant of the weight of this responsibility to serve all the people of the Republic of Namibia with the utmost dedication and commitment, in the service of all citizens of the Namibian House,” Mbumba said in his acceptance speech.
He undertook to cement the legacy established by the founding president, Sam Nujoma, the former president, Hifikepunye Pohamba, and his predecessor, President Geingob.
“It is poignant and reassuring to note that today, even in this time of loss, our nation remains calm and stable. This is owing to the visionary leadership and foresight of President Geingob, who was the chief architect of the Namibian Constitution and the champion of our governance architecture,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of International Relations, Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, has been appointed and sworn in as Namibia’s vice president.
President Geingob was in his second and last four-year term, which was to end in March 2025. Article 29 (4)(a) stipulates that if the vacancy occurs less than a year before the general elections, the vacancy shall be filled by the provisions of Article 34.
Article 34 specifies that the Vice President, Prime Minister, Deputy Prime Minister, and a person appointed by the Cabinet will act as president in that order. President Mbumba, on his part, promised to serve as head of state until March 2025 and will not seek re-election.
“Thank you for the honour bestowed on me for a short period until the elections are held. Don’t panic; I will be serving you for the remainder of Dr. Geingob’s term. I am not going to be around for elections,” President Mbumba said.
Meanwhile, a higher-level Cabinet committee has been established to prepare the funeral arrangements for the former president.
The committee chaired by Prime Minister Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila will work together with the National Honors Advisory Committee for the funeral arrangements. Geingob, who was 82, died just after midnight in the Windhoek hospital, where he was receiving cancer treatment. This was three days after he returned from the United States, where he went for a specialized cancer treatment in Los Angeles.
The late President announced on 24 January that cancerous cells had been detected in his body after a biopsy examination.
