Namibia’s President Hage Geingob died early on Sunday in a hospital in Windhoek, the presidential workplace mentioned in an announcement.
He was 82.
ALSO READ | Over 300 Japanese Cape learners rushed to hospital after falling in poor health
Geingob, who was serving his second time period as president, revealed final month that he was receiving therapy for most cancers.
“It’s with utmost unhappiness and remorse that I inform you that our beloved Dr. Hage G. Geingob, the President of the Republic of Namibia has handed on at this time”, learn the assertion on X, previously Twitter, signed by performing president Nangolo Mbumba.
“At his aspect, was his expensive spouse Madame Monica Geingos and his youngsters.”
A biopsy following a routine medical check-up in January had revealed “cancerous cells”, Geingob’s workplace mentioned on the time.
ALSO READ | Right here’s how a lot home employees ought to be paid
First elected president in 2014, Geingob was Namibia’s longest serving prime minister and third president.
In 2013, Geingob underwent mind surgical procedure, and final yr he underwent an aortic operation in neighbouring South Africa.
Up till his loss of life, he had been receiving therapy at Girl Pohamba Hospital in Windhoek.
“The Namibian nation has misplaced a distinguished servant of the individuals, a liberation battle icon, the chief architect of our structure and the pillar of the Namibian home,” mentioned Mbumba.
“At this second of deepest sorrow, I enchantment to the nation to stay calm and picked up whereas the Authorities attends to all obligatory state preparations, preparations and different protocols.”
MUST KNOW | SASSA: Grant funds THIS WEEK
He mentioned the Cupboard would convene instantly to make the mandatory state preparations.
Born in a village in northern Namibia in 1941, Hage Geingob was the southern African nation’s first president outdoors of the Ovambo ethnic group, which makes up greater than half the nation’s inhabitants.
He took up activism towards South Africa’s apartheid regime, which on the time dominated over Namibia, from his early education years earlier than being pushed into exile.
He spent nearly three a long time in Botswana and america, leaving the previous for the latter in 1964.
Namibia is to carry presidential and nationwide meeting elections in the direction of the top of the yr.
By Garrin Lambley © Agence France-Presse
SEE | SADTU threatens principals in Umgeni Municipality
