Namibia’s third first lady, Monica Geingos, premiered her documentary, titled ‘Lead from Where You Are: The Journey of the Office of the First Lady (2015–2024)’ at Ster-Kinekor on Thursday.
Told from a first-person perspective along with anecdotal commentary from friends and family, the project takes viewers through her childhood to her career in the private sector until she became the first lady of Namibia.
“The documentary reflects a nine-year leadership journey and speaks to the work done under the Office of the First Lady,” says Geingos’ office on Facebook.
She recounts how she made a presentation in front of politicians at a time when the late president Hage Geingob was prime minister.
“He passed a note to me which said ‘simplify’, and from there I had to make it very simple,” she says.
Geingos takes viewers inside her world of social media bullying and character assassination, which she had to confront head-on culminating into a well-publicised defamation law suit.
“Silence did not save me,” she says, adding that the attacks on her were attacks on all women.
She remembers the emotional moments during which she had to deal with the loss of her husband to cancer, saying they had no idea how little time he had after his cancer diagnosis.
Vice president Lucia Witbooi was a special guest and she commended the work of Geingos during her years of service.
“This documentary reminded me to be independent, to put in a performance when it matters, and to choose my battles wisely, as Dr Hage G Geingob would often say,” she said.
During the opening of the event, One Economy Foundation executive director Pauline Thomas said: “’Lead From Where You Are’ isn’t just a title, it’s a reminder that leadership is rooted in purpose, not position. It’s about using what you have, where you are, to make an impact.”
Geingos said she is working on a biography of her late husband, adding that she has no intention of turning her own story into a book.
Photo: Contributed
