…Venaani defends former first lady’s trip to UN
Official opposition leader McHenry Venaani says Monica Geingos’ recent trip to the 79th United Nations General Assembly (Unga) should be celebrated.
His comments come amid certain quarters questioning the former first lady’s attendance of the summit and whether her trip was sponsored by taxpayers.
United Nations (UN) secretary general António Guterres recently appointed Geingos as a Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) advocate.
The former first lady was appointed alongside Massimo Bottura, a three-Michelin-star chef and co-founder of Food for Soul, Diane von Furstenberg, who is a philanthropist and the founder of the fashion house DVF, as well as Lilly Singh, an award-winning entertainer and the founder of the Unicorn Island Fund.
“Monica Geingos has become a global leader being appointed by the UN secretary general. Our society must learn to be beyond pulling each other down.
“We should learn to celebrate any Namibian that excels beyond the call of duty. Her being a global ambassador adds value to our country, and we earn admiration through her work.
“Serving in that global role grants her latitude,” Popular Democratic Movement (PDM) leader Venaani says.
Former ambassador Pius Dunaiski says Geingos has since the beginning of president Hage Geingob’s Presidency rewritten the role of Namibian first ladies.
He says Geingob openly allowed his wife to participate in state matters, such as Cabinet committee meetings.
According to state protocol, being included in her husband’s delegations on foreign trips was not inappropriate, Dunaiski says.
“But, in a new transitional dispensation, the former first lady continued to raise questions through which she completely overshadows the current first lady. It doesn’t feel right,” he says.
Dunaiski says private citizens should not participate in official government engagements.
He says this is “odd” and a breach of strict state protocol.
“I agree with those who caution against participation in state matters, which is surely an exception the world over.
A clear demarcation between state and private matters is important to build a respected modern state convention – written or unwritten. The exception makes one wonder whether there is a political agenda behind it,” he says.
Dunaiski, however, says it is not inappropriate for the government to support Geingos’ international activities if they promote the country’s international standing and image.
“Geingos has used this platform to raise awareness of shared values and to advocate progress towards a more sustainable and equitable world, so her participation was justified.
“Her involvement has been aligned with her recognised role as a global advocate for development and gender equality,” he says.
Meanwhile, Geingos’s office says she has completed a productive trip to Boston and New York, attending the Harvard Ministerial Leadership Programme and various events around the 79th United Nations General Assembly.
As a United Nations SDG advocate, the former first lady focused on youth empowerment, gender equality and sustainable development.
She highlighted Namibia’s green hydrogen initiatives, advocated youth-led enterprises, and promoted the Be Free Youth Campus as a successful development model.
Geingos also highlighted women’s leadership and maternal health at key global events.
“Despite a heavy schedule, Geingos concluded a constructive visit, for which an event host paid the travel and accommodation expenses. Geingos’ active participation in several high-level events highlights her transition to global advocacy, particularly as an SDG advocate,” her office said in a statement on Saturday.
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