Geingob honoured for achievements – Presidency

Naming the B6 road between Windhoek and Hosea Kutako International Airport after president Hage Geingob honours his contributions to the country and his achievements.

Presidential spokesperson Alfredo Hengari said this yesterday, following online criticism in which it was asked if the naming of the road was a way to erase the memory of national hero Hosea Kutako.

“The pedigree and achievements of our national hero president Hage Geingob in service of Namibians, Africa and humanity at large, speak for themselves,” Hengari said.

President Nangolo Mbumba on Saturday officiated at the naming of the road between Windhoek and Hosea Kutako International Airport to Dr Hage Geingob Freeway.

He described Geingob as a transformational leader who has paved the way towards prosperity.

“President Geingob’s life can be described as a journey of purpose,” he said.

“It is no surprise that president Geingob, who was fortunate enough to receive his blessing from chief Hosea Kutako, returned to this country as a leader for all Namibians, irrespective of gender, tribe, race, language or religion, therefore cementing his legacy as a generational icon in Namibia, Africa and the world at large,” he said.

Mbumba said there is a need to make sufficient investments in improving and modernising the country’s roads.

“Roads are the arteries through which the economy beats. They carry the lifeblood that feeds our nation’s ambitions for sustainable development and our aspirations for shared economic prosperity,” he said.

“It’s never easy to achieve excellence […] President Geingob showed us the way to excellence,” he said.

Mbumba said the road will stand as a testament to Geingob’s belief in nationhood, his message of unity and inclusivity, his ideals of accountability and transparency, and his vision of inclusivity.

He said the national road network is approximately 49 203 kilometres long, comprising 8 037km of bitumen roads, 26 055km of gravel roads and others.

The transport sector is responsible for nearly 72% of all cargo transport, with the country’s road network connecting it to regional neighbours through four major corridors.

Theses are the Walvis Bay-Ndola-Lubumbashi Development Corridor (2 690km), the Trans-Oranje Development Corridor (1 550km), the Trans-Kalahari Development Corridor (1 366km) and the Trans-Kunene Development Corridor (1 551km).

Political analyst Ben Mulongeni says there is nothing wrong with naming a road after Geingob.

He, however, questions the reasons qualifying him for the honour.

“People are crying about unemployment, women and babies are sleeping on the floor in hospitals, and people are dying of hunger,” he says.

Mulongeni says prosperity brings good health and provides people with land and housing.

“No factories were built during his tenure. We are still not seeing the results of green hydrogen or the new oil discoveries,” he says.

Mulongeni says the Fishrot fishing quotas corruption scandal, leading to a number of fishermen losing their jobs, happened during Geingob’s tenure.