Niël Terblanché
In a brief yet solemn ceremony at State House, Dr Nangolo Mbumba was sworn in as the fourth President of Namibia in a peaceful and seamless transition of power.
The ceremony, presided over by Chief Justice Peter Shivute, saw Mbumba committing to uphold, and defend the Namibian Constitution, and administer the laws of the land faithfully.
During his acceptance speech, Mbumba pledged to serve diligently as President until the upcoming National and Presidential Elections at the end of November this year.
“I humbly accept the noble task of serving as Namibia’s President. I am committed to serving the Namibian people with the utmost dedication,” he stated. Mbumba honoured the legacy of his predecessors – Founding President Dr Sam Nujoma, former President Dr Hifikepunye Pohamba, and the late Dr Geingob – vowing to continue their work by building on the strong foundations they laid for the nation.
“In this challenging time of loss, it is comforting to see our nation remain stable and peaceful. President Geingob’s foresight as the chief architect of our Constitution has facilitated a smooth transition of power,” he stated.The ceremony also included the announcement of Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah as the new Vice President of Namibia.
Nandi-Ndaitwah is also the vice-president of the Swapo Party, and she is expected to be the party’s presidential candidate in the National Assembly and Presidential elections set to take place in November this year.
Nandi-Ndaitwah expressed her gratitude for the appointment. She assured the Namibian people of her commitment to serving the nation guided by the principles of the Namibian Constitution. “I am deeply honoured by the trust placed in me and pledge to fulfil my duties with integrity, impartiality, and dedication,” she declared.
Nandi-Ndaitwah called on all Namibians to unite and honour President Geingob’s legacy by adhering to his vision of unity throughout his life. Former president Geingob died in the early morning hours of Sunday at the age of 82 at the Lady Pohamba Private hospital after a short illness. Geingob who came to power in 2015, was serving his last term in the office and was expected to step down in March next year, and handover the power to whoever is going to win the Presidential Election in November later this year.
