Namibia Embassy Berlin -

Fellow Namibians,

The New Year is a moment of quiet reflection where we all recount the good and bad of the past year and endeavor to ensure that the good of our thoughts and actions, always outweighs the bad.

As a husband, father and friend, the past year was about communication, compromise, caring and fostering a closely-knit Namibian family. These continued to be defining lessons as the President and Head of the Namibian House. In my personal and Presidential capacity, 2015 was devoted towards promoting a shared vision and creating a firm foundation to build a prosperous Namibian house. Allow me to quote President Buhari who said "I belong to all of you, I belong to none of you". This quote echoes my conviction that my allegiance is to the Namibian family and not to individual groupings of family or friends.

The introduction of a shared ideological belief into the Namibian vocabulary through phrases such as "Namibian House", "Harambee", "no Namibian should feel left out", and "War on Poverty" was the deliberate, rallying call to establish and articulate a shared vision.

We were privileged to gain insight into the dreams of Namibians by visiting all 14 regions and listening to the challenges and, most importantly, the suggestions of our people from all walks of life. Our people are resilient and resourceful and given fair opportunities, will excel.

Geingob instructs heads of mission to bring investors

December 11th, 2015, New Era

Former Otjozondjupa governor Samuel Nujoma and Dr Kaire Mbuende, a former ambassador to the United Nations, are two of the five diplomats appointed by President Hage Geingob on Wednesday.

Former managing director of Air Namibia Andreas Guibeb, and one of the country's first permanent secretaries in the then ministry of foreign affairs (renamed International Relations and Cooperation), is now deployed to Germany. That position became vacant in March 2015 after Neville Gertze was appointed here at home as chief of protocol.

Theresia Samaria, who is not new in the diplomatic world either having formerly served as the high commissioner in Botswana and Sweden until 2010, was posted to Tanzania and replaces Japhet Izaaks who is redeployed to Egypt. Former Erongo and Otjondjupa regional governor Samuel Nuuyoma will represent Namibia in soccer crazy Brazil.

Mbuende, who spoke on behalf of his colleagues, said all the countries where they will serve have long-standing relations with Namibia. "We undertake to further enhance our existing relations for the benefit of the people of Namibia and of those friendly countries," said Mbuende.

President Dr Hage Geingob speaks at BBC-Hardtalk, 07 December 2015

You need i-player to watch the discussion.

Here you can watch a section of the President's response on the question of land, amongst others.

President unaware of China's naval base plans

December 9th, 2015 | by New Era Staff Reporter

President Hage Geingob has denied knowledge of any plans by the Chinese to set up a naval base in Namibia – a rumour that Western nations have followed with keen interest. In an interview on BBC's HARDTalk, President Geingob said he is not aware of the existence of any request by the Chinese authorities to set up a naval base along the Namibian coast, as widely reported in the local and international press.

A naval base (military port) is a military base, where warships and naval ships are deployed when they have no mission at sea or want to restock.

During the BBC interview yesterday, Geingob was pressed hard on the naval base allegations, among a host of other topics. "Do not bring in China into your ideological problems between China and your beliefs. If the Chinese come to us with a proposal, like everyone else does...

On behalf of the Government of the Republic of Namibia and on my own behalf, I would like to thank the government and people of the Republic of South Africa for the warm hospitality extended to us since our arrival in Johannesburg.

The second FOCAC is being held for the first time in Africa, and in southern Africa in particular. This is testimony of a maturing partnership. The theme of China and Africa Progressing Together in a Win-Win Cooperation for Common Development is highly appropriate and speaks respectfully towards Africa's demand for equal partnership and mutually beneficial development.

Excellencies,

The AU Agenda 2063 constitutes Africa's political and economic blue print and embodies our developmental aspirations. Our collective determination to bring about development on our continent is tempered by the understanding that we cannot do it alone. To this extent, our partnership with China is one built on long lasting and historic solidarity, as well as mutual respect. It is therefore offensive when we are lectured by certain nations and warned about the so called Chinese colonization of Africa. It is ironic that those who warn us are the same nations who sat around the table at the Berlin Conference in 1884 and carved out colonies in Africa with the sole intent to develop their countries with our mineral resources and the blood and sweat of our forced labour. The same countries who complain about Chinese investment in Africa are themselves recipients of large scale Chinese investment. As these nations have faith in their capacity to negotiate the best deals for themselves, Africans too have this same capacity.

Africa is free now and so is our ability to deal with those we choose to deal with, on our terms. The wholesale export of our resources has been replaced with a focus on value-addition, skills development and technology transfer.

Excellencies, China's investment in Africa over the past several decades has been invaluable.These include investments in transport infrastructure development and capacity building. This has enhanced Africa's capability in moving goods and services. This level of support has existed for decades and is not a new trend as some may have us believe. Click here to continue reading....