President Hage Geingob has hailed the stellar contributions to Namibia's independence by the late, former President of Tanzania, Benjamin Mkapa. Mkapa died on Thursday in Dar es Salaam, aged 82. President Geingob, in a message to Tanzanian counterpart, John Magufuli, said Namibians owe a debt of gratitude to Mkapa for his role in Namibia's independence as then foreign minister. Mkapa led Tanzania between 1995-2005 as President after he held several positions in the cabinet. Geingob said that Mkapa strengthened democratic governance in Africa. He expressed condolence to the Mkapa family, friends and Tanzanians at large.