by Amadi Ajamu
Dr. Theo Ben Gurirab, Namibia’s first foreign minister and second prime Minister was, according to Namibia’s President Hage Geingob, “a comrade and giant of the Namibian struggle for liberation,” has died on Saturday, July 14, 2018 after a long illness at the age of 80, at a Windhoek hospital in Namibia.
The December 12th Movement and the Patrice Lumumba Coalition hosted a Memorial Celebration of Dr. Ben Gurirab’s Life and Legacy, on Friday, July 20, 2018 at 6:00 PM at the National Black Theatre at 2031 (corner of 125 Street) 5th Avenue, National Black Theatre Way, New York, NY.
“Without the country’s first foreign minister, and one of the leading architects of Namibia’s diplomacy, a rich chapter is closing”, President Hage Geingob said in a press statement.
President Geingob said, “Gurirab’s exceptional work in service of the liberation movement, SWAPO (South Western African Peoples’ Organization) political party member of the Central Committee and Politburo to the Namibian people, will be cherished forever.”
Dr. Gurirab’s international work as Namibia’s SWAPO leadership, Prime Minister, Foreign Minister, Organization of African Unity Council of Ministers, President of the United Nations General Assembly, and President of the Inter-Parliamentary Union garnered him the respect of world leaders.
Dr. Ben Gurirab’s steadfast leadership and Pan African worldview has contributed significantly to the liberation struggles of African people on the continent and throughout the Diaspora. He was a true Freedom Fighter.
For more information please contact the December 12th Movement International Secretariat at (718) 398-1766.