2013-12-09Staff Report 2 TSUMEB – Prime Minister Dr Hage Geingob donated four cattle and N$20 000 in cash towards the hosting of Christmas parties for senior citizens from the Maize Triangle including Otjiwarongo. The occasion that was attended by community representatives of Tsumeb, Otavi, Grootfontein and Otjiwarongo took place at Geingob’s farm in the Tsumeb constituency last week on Thursday. He told the recipients to use the donation to solicit further donations to host well-deserved Christmas parties for the elders in their towns. He added that he is sentimental about the four towns where he was raised and groomed in one way or the other. “Senior citizens cannot be forgotten, we must appreciate our origin and those who made a contribution to our upbringing. I always want to see our elders in a happy mood. Despite the little I am giving, I wish others can add including business people in those towns so that we can make a meaningful but collective contribution to their joy and celebrations,” Geingob said. He also extended early Christmas wishes to all the country’s elderly noting that he may not be able to attend their Christmas parties this year due to pressing official and private commitments. Tsumeb Constituency councillor Lebbeus Tobias commended Geingob for his gesture to senior citizens. “Tsumeb has benefitted every year in the form of a cow – we are happy that more towns have now been considered by the PM because age is beautiful and demands this type of respect and dignity,” he said. According to Tobias, elders usually meet at Christmas parties to discuss matters and share old stories and information about how to restore dignity in their communities. “Old people have a wealth of wisdom to share and experience to relate – all we need is to organize this type of get-together and share such occasions with leaders and young people to interact and learn from them,” said Tobias. Otjiwarongo constituency councillor, Otto Ipinge, said all too soon the pillars of faith and wisdom (elders) “will pass from our midst and the loss will be tremendous and difficult to replace”. He assured the premier that his donation will be used for its intended purpose. Turning to the death of world icon, the late South African president Nelson Mandela,r Geingob said Mandela was among the few elders who used to give him credible advice as a politician. “Remember some of us grew up without our elders since we left to liberate our country when we were very young. I met Madiba on a few occasions, and one thing that I remember most about his advice was when he told me to always stand tall and take challenges with pride. Don’t ever become angry in politics if you are treated in a way that you did not anticipate, always walk tall and move on, everybody has his chance in life,” he said. He praised South Africans for caring for Mandela in such a befitting and dignified manner. By Engel Nawatiseb 2013-12-09Staff Report 2
