Mbumba recalls final moments with Geingob

President Nangolo Mbumba and Professor Peter Katjavivi, Speaker of the National Assembly, have described their last moments with late statesman Hage Geingob as difficult.

The duo recalled the events leading up to Geingob’s death in an interview with national broadcaster NBC.

Both Mbumba and Katjavivi were allowed to visit Geingob in the intensive care unit (ICU) of the Lady Pohamba Private Hospital where he succumbed to cancer following a short illness.

“I was there [in] the final moments. The only thing I remember is that I was told ‘you better go and make an announcement’. And that was hard. I am not making an announcement about somebody else, but that we have lost a head of state, we have lost a comrade, we have lost a friend,” Mbumba said.

He did not get a chance to say his final goodbyes, as the two had become accustomed to not bidding each other farewell, a tradition that started in exile, he said.

“I was in touch with the [Namibian] mission, with his team. When they left from here [to the United States of America, where Geingob received treatment], I was there. We shook hands. We did not say much to each other, and the two of us have this habit of never saying goodbye to one another, but this was very difficult,” Mbumba said.

Hopeful

Katjavivi said his last sight of Geingob was one filled with hope that he would make a recovery, despite the state of his health.

“I wanted to leave with something symbolising hope. It was a very difficult period. I felt I was looking at his eyebrows, and the eyebrows were moving. When I left the ICU, I was talking to myself, comforting myself that there is hope for a recovery,” he said.

Speaking about their plans post-retirement, Katjavivi said the two planned to visit many of the places they spent time in during exile.

“We talked about travelling to some of our old places where we used to live, visiting old friends and sharing experiences of what we are doing,” he said of Geingob’s retirement plans.

Mbumba, for his part, said he would miss showing up at Geingob’s home unannounced to watch football and reflect on other activities.

“I will miss going to his house uninvited, using the excuse of ‘I am just coming to watch soccer’, and then talking about the other things we need to do on Monday. That was the relationship [we had]; I did not have to call.”

Geingob died on 4 February, and was succeeded by Mbumba. He will be buried at Heroes’ Acre this Sunday, 25 February.