WINDHOEK – Immediately after being sworn in on Saturday, President Hage Geingob declared a war on poverty – which he said he would begin by first narrowing the socio-economic gaps among the populace.
Thousands of Namibians, joined by a sizeable contingent of foreign dignitaries and heads of government, braced the rainy weather on Saturday to attend Namibia’s 25th independence celebrations and the inauguration of Geingob as the country’s third democratically-elected president, at the Independence Stadium in Windhoek.
It was a smooth transition of power between Geingob and his predecessor Hifikepunye Pohamba, who said he would be happy to begin life again as an ordinary Namibian citizen and retain his title as a former president of the republic.
It was an exemplary democratic handover of power, a rarity on the African continent where on many an occasion when a new leader is being sworn in the predecessor is aboard a plane to seek asylum abroad.
But in the Namibian case, the country’s first president, Dr Sam Nujoma, Pohamba and Geingob were all in attendance – a testimony to a 25-year tradition of suave exchange of authority.
Geingob, in his speech later, acknowledged the presence of opposition leaders in the crowd, especially McHenry Venaani who leads the country’s official opposition, the DTA.
The peaceable atmosphere that prevailed during the general elections in November was replicated on Saturday when President Pohamba, without a grain of hesitation, handed over the reins to his successor.
Revered African statesmen such as former South African president Thambo Mbeki and Olusegun Obasanjo, formerly a Nigerian head of state, witnessed the occasion.
In his inaugural address, Geingob started off by highlighting the role of his presidential predecessors by thanking Pohamba for solidifying the foundation laid by Nujoma.
“This is the day the Lord has made. We will rejoice and be glad in it. This day would not have come about without the committed leadership legacy left by those before me,” said the 73-year-old Geingob.
Geingob described Nujoma as his mentor and an icon of Namibia’s struggle for independence.
He reiterated the phrase that featured prominently during his election campaign last year that “no Namibian must feel left out” when he promised to serve all Namibians without exception.
Geingob informed the 2.1 million Namibians that the priority of his administration would be to address the socio-economic gaps among the citizenry – with the declaration of an all-out war on poverty and inequality topping the agenda.
“The prerequisites for a prosperous nation include good constitutions, peace and democracy. We are however aware that people do not eat constitutions, peace or democracy. People eat decent food, live under decent shelter and enjoy decent employment,” he said.
He said there is a need for a myriad of options to tackle issues plaguing the society and not a one-size-fits-all strategy.
In his final speech as president, Pohamba urged Namibians not to forget that Namibia’s independence did not come on a silver platter.
He appealed to the nation to fully support Geingob during his presidency. Pohamba said with Geingob at the helm, Namibia is in good hands because he is more than well prepared and equal to the task at hand.
“Today, 25 years ago a new and liberated nation was born after a long struggle for freedom, for which our heroes and heroines paid a high price and moulded a new nation,” outgoing president Hifikepunye Pohamba told those in attendance.
“As I leave office, there is no title I will carry more proudly than being an ordinary citizen and a former president of our beloved country. I thank you all for the support you have extended to me during those ten memorable years,” said Pohamba.
In his last address as president, Pohamba also paid tribute to the support rendered to Namibia during the bitter struggle for independence from countries such as Zambia, Cuba, Tanzania and Angola.
Presidents Edgar Lungu (Zambia), Jakaya Kikwete (Tanzania) and Jose Eduardo dos Santos (Angola) were among the heads of state in attendance.
Others included Mozambique’s Filipe Nyusi, South Sudan’s Salva Kiir Mayardit, Teodor Obiang Nguema Mbasogo from Equatorial Guinea, Hert Rajaonarimampianina from Madagascar, Gabon’s Ali Bongo Ondimba, Mali’s Ibrahim Boubacar Keita, Swaziland’s King Mswati III and Ian Khama of Botswana.
Vice-President Dr Nickey Iyambo, Prime Minister Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila and her deputy Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah were also sworn in on Saturday.
After concluding his speech, Pohamba handed over the symbols of power – the national seal, national flag and the constitution.
Chief Justice Peter Shivute then led the swearing-in proceedings as Geingob took the oath of office, vowing to obey and uphold the country’s supreme law.
As per the country’s established rules and precedents, in his capacity as president Geingob also took over from Pohamba as the Commander-in-Chief of the Namibian Defence Force (NDF).
At the end of the ceremony, Geingob watched as the troops which he will command for the next five years performed a march past concurrently with a fly-past consisting of several fighter jets and helicopters, before making his way onto the open-top presidential Jeep for a lap around the stadium to greet the people.
African Union Commission chairperson Dr Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, and former African presidents were also in attendance.