By Petronella Sibeene
WINDHOEK
Hundreds of people, among them ministers and diplomats, yesterday afternoon thronged the Hosea Kutako International Airport, where President Hifikepunye Pohamba welcomed his Angolan counterpart, President Jose Eduardo dos Santos.
Accompanied by the First Lady Ana Paula dos Santos and a 54-member delegation, the Angolan leader is in the country for a two-day State visit.
The presidential jet touched down at exactly 12h20.
As the Angolan President, together with the First Lady, alighted from the plane, Pohamba and Namibian First Lady, Penehupifo Pohamba, were ready to welcome them.
Dos Santos was dressed in a navy blue suit, a light blue shirt and a light brown tie while his wife was dressed in a simple, yet elegant, pink top and a light blue skirt with pink shoes.
Journalists struggled to get a clear shot as the two presidents marched to the dais.
Dos Santos was greeted with a 21-gun salute and inspected the guard of honour.
The two Presidents greeted ministers present, ambassadors and the Angolan community in Namibia.
As always, cultural groups were there to welcome the President. In dance, they demonstrated and showcased the different cultural groups of Namibia.
A member of the Angolan community in Namibia, Raul Lumbongo, remarked: “We are here to welcome our President. To show him that we still love him and we depend on him to guide us on how we can all rebuild our country.”
Adilson Teixeira, a marketing student at the Polytechnic of Namibia who was also at the airport to welcome Dos Santos, said development has started since peace returned to that once war-torn country.
Yesterday afternoon, the Angolan President held official talks with President Pohamba. The visiting President also paid a courtesy call on the first Namibian President Sam Nujoma.
This morning, Dos Santos will lay a wreath at the Heroes’ Acre after which he will tour the Windhoeker Machinen-fabrik factory premises.
President Dos Santos is scheduled to address a joint session of Parliament before touring Meatco today.
Dos Santos and his delegation are expected to leave the country this afternoon.
Namibia and Angola have excellent bilateral relations dating back to the years of the struggle for Namibia’s independence. Angola allowed SWAPO to use its territory during the liberation struggle.