Presidency reveals motive for Mnyupe‘s US trip with Geingob

The Office of the President says hydrogen commissioner James Mnyupe, who accompanied late president Hage Geingob on his brief medical trip to the USA, was selected to provide the statesman with technical support such as 'drafting letters' on urgent matters

In late January, Geingob travelled to Los Angeles, where he was set to undergo a novel treatment for cancer. Mnyupe’s inclusion on the medical trip sparked questions, with critics saying he was not a medical professional or spokesperson who needed to disseminate information about the president’s health status.

Presidential spokesperson Dr Alfredo Hengari clarified Mnyupe’s role, saying he was not the only official assigned to travel with Geingob.

“Mr James Mnyupe travelled as an advisor and senior aide to the president in order to provide technical support to the president, if and when deemed necessary. I would like to re-emphasise the fact that the president requires technical support at all times in order to carry out his or her duties effectively,” Hengari said.

Ongoing work

Hengari explained that it is always required for a president to be accompanied by relevant staff members to execute core functions.

“Letters may need to be drafted, correspondence needs to be attended to, and statements and media releases need to be drafted at short notice. It is for that reason that the president is always accompanied by relevant staff members to perform certain core duties at short notice,” he said.

Last month, in response to an enquiry from Namibian Sun, Mnyupe dismissed insinuations that Geingob might have signed critical green hydrogen agreements while on his sickbed.

“Those allegations are unfounded. President Geingob travelled to the United States to undergo medical treatment, as expressed in various press statements from the Namibian Presidency. He was not on official business and therefore did not participate in any activities pertaining to the governance of the country,” Mnyupe said.

This follows recent revelations that the late president signed off on the appointments of Bank of Namibia board members while in hospital.

State House announced in January that Geingob, who was diagnosed with cancer, had accepted [a] medical offer by leading scientists and medical professionals in Los Angeles to undergo novel therapy for the disease. The travel, medical and accommodation expenses of the president were not incurred by the government, it was announced.

Information obtained on Flight24, an aircraft tracking website, indicated that Geingob travelled to the USA via Algeria on board a Gulfstream 5 and not with the presidential Falcon assigned to him.

The aircraft is said to have come from Qatar, but there were no details about who commissioned it – or their relationship with the head of state.

Not at state expense

Yesterday, Hengari refused to divulge the identity of who bankrolled the travel expenses, saying: “President Geingob was an internationalist and had forged in the national interest many mutually beneficial relations with countries across the world.”

Qatar president Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani attended Geingob’s burial last week, prompting questions about whether the country funded the medical trip to the USA and whether there were any expectations in return for the gesture.

“The presidency communicated in a press release on 24 January 2024 that the travel, medical and accommodation expenses of the president would not be incurred by government. That remains the case,” said Hengari.

Geingob, who was buried at Heroes' Acre last weekend, received a hero’s farewell.