President Nangolo Mbumba has urged current and future legislators to build on the foundational work of seasoned parliamentarians such as the late Dr. Mose Tjitendero and retired politician Kandy Nehova.
He credited the two leaders with the building of the country's robust National Assembly and National Council, cherished as the hallowed bastions of democracy.
Dr. Mbumba, who was a member of Parliament for more than two decades, delivered his valedictory address to the lawmakers in the National Assembly today.
"I am sure that you will agree with me that it has indeed been a period of tears and one of the darkest periods in the history of independent Namibia. Today, we are here at the end of the presidency of our late President Geingob, which I am completing under extraordinary circumstances. We are also here, bearing witness to the end of the work of the 7th National Assembly."
President Mbumba, in his valedictory to the 7th Parliament, shared his journey as a politician and member of the National Assembly that started in the most remarkable of ways.
Following his assignment as Chief Executive Officer for the reintegration of Walvis Bay into Namibia in 1994, Mbumba was appointed and held several ministerial portfolios before ascending to the positions of Vice-President and President, respectively.
"We are here now, for some of us at the end of our political journey. Professor Katjavivi and I are part of the last generation of leaders who left Namibia for exile in the 1960s. That in itself makes my parting statement both exciting and full of emotion. Emotional—because it is the end of a long journey that commenced with small steps from Ondangwa via Kongo, Nkurenkuru, and Rundu to Botswana five decades ago."
The President further emphasised that, over the past 35 years, Parliament has endeavoured to fulfil its mandate for the betterment of the sovereigns.
He encouraged the current and future generations of lawmakers to continue to use the Chamber to advance the ideals of unity and others enshrined in the Constitution.
"Current and future generations must advance the ethos of this chamber to ensure victory in the Second Struggle for Economic Freedom for all Namibians. They must continue to fight against the vices of racism, tribalism, division and corruption to honour the noble values for which many heroes and heroines have sacrificed their lives, to achieve the independence and nationhood of Namibia on March 21, 1990."
The valediction in the National Assembly is part of a series of events marking the end of President Mbumba's formal roles in public affairs.
"I look forward to joining in retirement the person and leader I admired most, namely, President Hifikepunye Pohamba. We will have a lot to catch up with."