Stefanus Nashama
“… Indeed, we have lost an icon, a mentor, and a legend. Our hearts ache for the loss of one of our brightest lights. We now must learn how to live without Hage Geingob.”
Despite political differences and affiliations, Landless People’s Movement Parliamentarian, Henny Seibeb, says the death of President Geingob has left him with no space to believe he is no more.
“It is rather difficult to refer to President Hage Geingob as late – it is surreal; it is unimaginable,” Seibeb said.
Seibeb acknowledged the late President was indeed an extraordinary man who spent all his life in public service and left an indelible mark in many people’s memory.
“We have lost an icon, a mentor, and a legend. Our hearts ache for the loss of one of our brightest lights. We now must learn how to live without Hage,” he said.
According to him, he got to know President Geingob only in 1989, soon after he returned from exile. In that year, as the Swapo National Director for elections, Geingob crisscrossed the country.
As Party functionaries, we had an opportunity to interact with him,” he recalled.
Seibeb, who left the Swapo party in 2017 under the leadership of the late Geingob, revealed that his first impression of him was: “Here there is a man on a mission”.
President Geingob was a man determined to achieve something, determined against all odds, to make his mark on the Namibian political landscape, he stressed, while attributing him to nation-building for all Namibians.
Equally, Seibeb emphasised the phenomena of ‘the year of expectation’ as declared by the late Gengob this year, calling for its fulfilment by the national leaders.
His idea that no one should feel left out still rocks memories, he mentioned.
“We remember how he extolled the virtues of inclusiveness. His mantra was: exclusion spells conflict, while inclusion spells harmony,” said Seibeb.
He uses the opportunity to reiterate that the departure of President Geingob comes at a time when his dream of a Namibian house was incomplete.
Despite this, he urged fellow national leaders to be prepared to continue where the late has ended.
“It is my wish and hope that we will take up the mantle of leadership to ensure that the dream is not deferred indefinitely,” he encouraged.
Seibeb sympathised with the widow and the children saying they are not morning alone.
“Those we love do not go away. They walk beside us every day. Unseen, unheard, but always nearby. Still loved, still missed, and forever dear to us.” Our beloved Hage will always walk beside us every day and always be nearby,” he comforted.
