Namibians from various political, academic and civic backgrounds gathered at the University of Namibia (Unam) in Windhoek to honour the legacy of former president Hage Geingob on Monday.
The event, organised by the Hage Geingob Presidential Centre, took place at the Peter Nyangoro Auditorium on the Hage G Geingob Campus and also launched the inaugural Dr Hage G Geingob Townhall Conversation.
Held on 3 August, coinciding with what would have been the late president’s 85th birthday, the national platform seeks to institutionalise Geingob’s principles of participatory governance, public dialogue, and effective statecraft.
In his keynote address, former president and Unam chancellor Nangolo Mbumba reflected on the mixed emotions of the anniversary, stating that while 3 August traditionally evokes fond memories, it now serves as a poignant reminder of a leader whose charisma and intellect profoundly impacted both the nation and the continent.
“It is a day that also brings with it poignant recollections, knowing that on this 85th birthday anniversary, we can only recall the smile of this departed national hero, but we can no longer be charmed by his captivating charisma. So, it is a bittersweet occasion for most of us,” he remarks.
Mbumba highlights that Geingob’s domestic policies are directly aligned with the broader objectives of the African Union Agenda 2063, in relation to the event’s theme, ‘The Unique Contributions of His Excellency Dr Hage Geingob to the Governance Architecture of Africa.’
“His domestic governance philosophy intersected with broader African Union governance frameworks, among these being the overarching Agenda 2063, which envisions ‘An Africa of good governance, democracy, respect for human rights, justice and the rule of law’,” Mbumba added.
Geingob’s distinctive governance approach in Namibia will likely leave a lasting impact on Africa’s governance architecture, he said.
During the same event, veteran politician Peter Katjavivi urged Namibia’s founding leaders to document their historic experiences, recognising that the liberation generation has failed to preserve its narrative.
Katjavivi also outlined the objectives of the newly established Dr Hage Geingob Presidential Centre, of which he is the chairperson, highlighting its aim to promote transformational leadership throughout Namibia and the Southern African Development Community.
“The broad objective of this initiative is to uphold and preserve his legacy and set a leadership standard at home, as well as in our SADC region by preserving the past and capturing the present while inspiring the future through research and documentation,” he said.
Former Cabinet minister Pendukeni Iivula-Ithana described Geingob as a master political mentor who shaped Namibia’s political class. She highlighted that constitutionalism was Geingob’s unwavering principle throughout his public service.
Iivula-Ithana said that Geingob systematically instilled legal discipline, organisational accountability, and respect for statutory processes among his followers. His influence extended beyond his executive role, as he actively nurtured and trained individuals to become principled, law-abiding public servants.
“Geingob is the one who moulded some of us to be real politicians. He took us through the constitution. The governance principle of Geingob is constitutionalism. Things must be done within the law and therefore, he spearheaded the drafting of the Namibian Constitution,” she said.
