WINDHOEK – Visiting United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon has lauded President Hifikepunye Pohamba’s decision to step down from the presidency when his term expires next year, urging statesmen across the world to emulate the Namibian Head of State.
The UN chief, in the country to commission the United Nations House in Windhoek, also commended Namibia for wide-ranging liberties in areas such as press freedom, gender equality and environmental protection, amongst others.
Pohamba used the occasion to express his dissatisfaction with the UN’s classification of Namibia as a middle-income country – saying this is hurting the country economically.
However, Ban had nothing but praise for Namibia, especially the country’s democratic system and the manner in which Namibia has handled refugees who sought asylum in the country since independence.
The United Nations House was built by the Namibian government as a token of appreciation for the role the UN played in Namibia’s struggle for independence.
To read the speeches delivered by H.E. Hifikepunye Pohamba, President of the Republic of Namibia, on the occasion, click on the names below:
2. Commissioning of the UN House
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The Independence Memorial Museum in Windhoek was finally inaugurated by Namibia's President Hifikepunye Pohamba on the country's 24th Independence Day on 21 March 2014. The museum, situated right between the Alte Feste Museum and the Christus Kirche on Robert Mugabe Avenue in Windhoek, showcases Namibia’s long history of anti-colonial resistance and the national liberation struggle.
Also on Independence Day, President Pohamba unveiled the new Sam Nujoma Statue, which stands on a pedestal on the hill where the Reiterdenkmal stood for more than 102 years, and, few metres away to the south, the Genocide Memorial Statue. The Reiterdenkmal was moved to the courtyard of the Alte Feste Museum on Christmas night 2013.
WINDHOEK – President Hifikepunye Pohamba said he has lost a best friend in Ovaherero Paramount Chief Kuaima Riruako, who passed away in the Roman Catholic hospital on Monday following a short illness, aged 79.
“I feel sad because yesterday (Monday) this time, I went to see my friend Chief Kuaima Riruako in hospital. What shocked me is that, just after one hour, he passed on. I was thinking, has he been waiting for me to go and say good bye?” asked a downcast Pohamba yesterday afternoon, adding that he was glad that he had gone to see him even if it was only briefly. Pohamba, accompanied by First Lady Penehupifo Pohamba, Prime Minister Dr Hage Geingob, Speaker of the National Assembly Dr Theo-Ben Gurirab and his wife Joan Guriras, former president of the DTA Dirk Mudge, his son Republican Party president Henk Mudge, former diplomat Dr Zed Ngavirue, Professor Peter Katjavivi visited the Red Flag Commando Hall in Katutura yesterday to pay their last respects. Pohamba said he was unable to visit Chief Riruako earlier, because of other pressing commitments outside of town, but asked that his personal doctor, Dr Viscaya Amutenya, visit the chief to report on his condition.