Windhoek - Several heads of state, including Angolan President João Lourenço, attend Saturday at the Independence Stadium in Windhoek, the funeral ceremony of the former Namibian statesman Hage Geingob, who died twenty days ago.
After being watched over throughout Friday night and Saturday morning in Parliament Gardens, Hage Geingob's remains will be transferred to the Independence Stadium for the final official state ceremonies, open to the public from all over the country.
The program will be marked by the singing of the Namibian and African Union anthems, a religious moment with the Catholic Church and the Evangelical Lutheran church of Namibia, messages from the country's Interim President, Nangolo Mbumba, as well as heads of state and other foreign dignitaries.
On Sunday, the ceremony will take place from 10 a.m. to 12 noon, with the placing of the urn on the grave of the Heroes' Acre, at the same time as the firing of 21 cannon salutes, an aerial display, among other actions.
Angola is taking part in the funeral ceremonies with a military contingent from the Angolan Air Force (FAN) made up of 77 soldiers and eight aircraft.
On Friday, for long hours, a large number of Namibians and foreigners filled some parts of the streets of Windhoek for the procession of the body of the late President that was being taken from the Presidential Palace to his family home called Rosalia House, in the presence of former First Lady Monica Geingob, children, family and friends.
Hage Geingob was the third President of Namibia, a country that became independent in 1990.
Following President Geingob's death, his vice-president, Nangolo Mbumba, was sworn in as acting president until elections, scheduled for November 2024.
Hage Geingob died on February 4 at the age of 82.
ADR/VIC/MRA/AMP
