Namibian President Hage Geingob Passes Away At 82 While Receiving Cancer Treatment

Nambian President Hage Geingob died at the age of 82 in the capital of Windhoek on Sunday morning.

Nambian President Hage Gottfried Geingob died at the age of 82 on Sunday morning weeks after being dignosed with cancer, Vice-President Nangolo Mbumba announced.

In a statement, Mbumba revealed that the president's wife Madame Monica Geingos, and his children were by his side during his death. Geingob died at Lady Pohamba Hospital in Namibia's capital, Windhoek, reported Al Jazeera.

“The Namibian nation has lost a distinguished servant of the people, a liberation struggle icon, the chief architect of our constitution and the pillar of the Namibian house,”Al Jazeera quoted Mbumba saying.

Last month, the 82-year-old leader disclosed his cancer diagnosis to the public. Thereafter, his office announced that he had begun his treatment after cancerous cells were discovered during a routine gastroscopy and colonoscopy, Al Jazeera reported.

Although the office did not reveal the president's diagnosis, it said that he would carry out his presidential duties as usual. His office later announced that he would undergo treatment in the US and planned to return to Namibia by February 2, BBC News reported.

The African leader also shared that he underwent an aortic operation last year in South Africa and even survived prostate cancer in 2014. According to Al Jazeera's reports, Geingob underwent brain surgery in 2013.

Hage Geingob became Namibia's president in 2015 and was serving his second and final term in office this year.The country is set to hold its presidential and parliamentary elections in November 2024.

The Swapo party, which has been in power since Namibia became independent in 1990, has selected Mrs Nandi-Ndaitwah as its presidential candidate. She is currently serving as Namibia's Deputy Prime Minister but would make history if elected, becoming the first female president of Namibia.