The Namibian president death last week put him to a list of over twenty African president and leaders who died while in office. Some countries have experienced the agony of losing their beloved leaders more than once, countries like Nigeria, Burundi, Zambia had to deal with the ordeal on more than one occasion. In the SADC region, Botswana, Zambia, Tanzania, Swaziland and now Namibia have at one point had to bury their presidents. Like a legendary Zimbabwean singer John Chibadura and Sungura boys says death has ‘no membership’, not respecter of status, “Kufa ha kuna memba”,This article seeks to understand Dr Hage Geingob posture towards Botswana.
I have been meaning to pay a small tribute to former Namibian leader Dr Hage Geingob whose passing robbed the region and Africa at large of a grey hair symbolizing wisdom, maturity and stable hands. As a journalist in Botswana I can only understand Dr Geingob from his position towards Botswana. His death at the beginning of the week marks almost six years since him together with our former president Lieutenant General (rtd)Seretse Khama Ian Khama signed the boundary treaty on the 5th of February 2018 in Windhoek. The treaty was facilitated by the African Union Commission and other development partners. Following the signing president Hage Geingob then said the agreement means that boundaries must not be a hindrance to free movement. He said the treaty is very important because Botswana and Namibians will be free and will subsequently lead to abolition of Visa.
Post Khama administration, president Masisi pushed the idea of passport free travel culminating in the use of identity cards, launched just not a long time ago. Namibia and Botswana signed a memorandum of agreement to allow for the use of National identity cards as travel documents between the two countries. It’s easy to understand president Geingob’s commitment to regional integration and a united Africa.Dr Geingob lived in Botswana briefly in Francistown, lived in the Congo, Nigeria and was later to be based in Zambia. His understanding of an Africa that does not create barriers for fellow Africans was probably from experience. He was aware of the potential of an Africa that does not create barriers even though he may have gone through barriers himself during the liberation struggle, he was ready to ensure he removes all the bottlenecks that hinders both trade and people to people interactions.
Dr Geingob is not the only Namibian leader who lived in other African countries, his predecessor Hifekepunye Pohamba once lived here in Botswana as they were running away from oppression. However it took the wisdom and pan African persuasion of Dr Geigob to push for the relaxation of free movement between the two countries through our two president. This was the first development in the SADC region. When history of more regional integration and Visa free movement gains momentum in the region, Dr Hage Geingob’s role as the pioneer or the one who rolled the ball must not be forgotten.
In 2020, Dr Hage Geingob displayed the highest level of maturity when his country was in an election euphoria for the local and regional elections. News broke that Botswana Defence force killed four Namibian fisherman, the Nchindo brothers and their cousin Sinvula.The killings caused an international tension between Botswana and Namibia. Coincidentally the shooting occurred at Sedudu.The Sedudu Island was in the past a subject of territorial dispute between the two sister countries. The Namibians were up in arms and believed, which is not necessarily true, that Botswana had a shoot to kill policy which meant the Botswana army was trigger happy and just killed their fellow citizens without due diligence. There were of course back and forth diplomatic engagements to cool down emotions on the Namibian side. I am convinced that it was Dr Geingob’s handling of the matter that allowed for cool heads and sanity over the issue. One can see the warmth and usual brotherhood greetings during the photo opportunity between Dr Geingob and President Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi as they met at the height of the tension. Dr Geigob looked like a man on a mission to contain the tension and reach an amicable solution. He had a choice of throwing tantrums and act to cameras so that his Namibian constituent can get a sense that he is also angry. It was an election season so he might as well have used the incident to recreate himself as this tough president and may be promised to declare war on Botswana.
Recently in DRC Felix Tshisekedi fell into the temptation and promised his constituents that once reelected, he will be declaring war on Rwanda and the people chanted in agreement. We all know that he was reelected but has not yet declared war.Dr Geingob was therefore wise enough not to flatter the public by belligerent speeches. He restrained himself and chose maturity over expediency.Dr Geingob managed to restrain the galloping Namibian public who were calling for war and blood.
The above are the two points which I believe were key foreign policy positions that Botswana benefited from Dr Geingob’s wisdom and commitment to the pan African agenda. This is my interpretation of his policies to Botswana. He saw Batswana as brothers and friends and all his policies towards Botswana were informed by the need to foster cohesion and promote good neighborliness.
Any article that is written and omit his struggle credentials will not be enough.Dr Geingob, one of the few presidents who have read for a PhD has been a loyal public servant to Namibia and Africa. He represented his political movement SWAPO at the United Nations while studying in the USA.He was later to head UN training institute set up to train the Namibian civil service in preparation for post independent Namibia.Dr Geingob also directed the first Namibian democratic elections and later served as a Prime minister in the new Sam Nujoma administration. So in Dr Hage Geingob, Namibia has lost its political encyclopedia and institutional memory while Africa have lost its loyal and wise son.Dr Geingob in 2022, while sending former South African president Thabo Mbeki birthday message, promised that when he retires he will join hands with Mr Mbeki to revive the African renaissance movement. So like the French say, in Africa when the old die, it’s an equivalence of a whole museum burning down. In Dr Geingob our museum is up in smoke.
