Government urges limited gatherings during mourning period for late President Geingob

Staff Reporter

GOVERNMENT and state-owned institutions with scheduled gatherings and ceremonies are requested to minimise such events and conduct them in a dignified manner in honour of the mourning period for the late President Hage Geingob.

This was announced by the Minister of Information and Communication Technology, Dr Peya Mushelenga, during the first briefing regarding the mourning and preparation for the funeral of the late president.

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“National mourning of the government is no different from mourning as we have it in most of our cultures. It means it is a time to reflect; a time to ponder; a time to respect the spirit of the departed one. That’s why you see, for the government activities, all ceremonies have been suspended. Most of you have seen when the president came to open parliament today, the ceremonial part has not been performed today,” he explained.

The minister therefore urged institutions to limit gatherings and ceremonies to ensure the proper observance of the mourning period for the late President Geingob. He also called on the nation to remain calm and display respect for the departed president.

“Let us remain calm as a nation and show some respect to our departed Head of State through the way we are behaving,” Mushelenga said.

He added that the newly-inaugurated President Nangolo Mbumba has established a National Preparatory Committee, chaired by Prime Minister Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila, for the funeral of the late president, who passed away on Sunday. This committee, he revealed, is in consultation with the family of President Geingob and will provide updates regarding the president’s funeral. In this regard, the date and details of President Geingob’s funeral will be announced at a later stage.

He further announced that more briefings on mourning and funeral preparations for President Geingob will take place until the date of the president’s funeral. These briefings will be livestreamed on the Facebook page of the Ministry of Information and Communication Technology every day at 16:00.