Swapo ‘Harambeeing’ with

The Swapo secretary-general, Nangolo Mbumba was full of praise when he wished his party’s president, Hage Geingob many returns on his 75th birthday. He narrated how selfless Geingob attends the Swapo Politburo meetings in his private car, and hails Geingob’s respect for party structures.
“He has united the party and respects the party structures, I am honoured to serve under him,” a happy Mbumba said. Geingob turns 75 today, and took the reins of the country when he was 74 years old in 2015. He became acting Swapo president last year when former president Hifikepunye Pohamba stepped down as party head. “We wish him many happy and healthy returns on his blessed birthday. We are all Harambeeing together with him, following him. We are proud of his leadership, and we are looking forward to a prosperous future for him and for all Namibians through him,” Mbumba said. He added that Geingob’s charisma, with his long history from the day he brought the Swapo flag to Namibia to the writing of the Constitution, to 12 years of being prime minister, and many other accolades, he has been an asset to the Swapo party. “He is a son of the soil and very much a leader of the party and legacy continues. He is the people’s leader, a people’s person,” Mbumba said.
Asked about some of Geingob’s biggest achievements as Swapo president, he reiterated that Geingob has great respect for the structures of the party. “Politburo takes place at the party headquarters, he respects the structures of the party, he comes there in his private car, not State vehicles and he has his town meeting leadership, of visiting the regions to make sure that we are in touch with the people on the ground. “He can dance with the youth, he can sit down with the older people, he remembers the veterans and that is very important, because those are the people who open up the way for us to occupy higher posts,” Mbumba said. “I am honored to serve under him as secretary-general, and all of us, leaders and members wish him many happy returns,” he concluded.

GORDON JOSEPH