Windhoek, Namibia: In Namibia, President Hage Geingob handed away on the age of 83. His funeral will happen on February sixth.
After the announcement of the Namibian president’s loss of life, we checked the social media pages of Russians residing within the African nation. There was no point out of mourning. Life goes on: eating places, purchasing, excursions. The top of state has died, and that’s that. In response to movies from Namibia, not one of the locals appear devastated both.
Traveler Mark Schneider, who’s presently within the Namibian capital of Windhoek, described the state of affairs.
“The environment in Namibia is all the time calm, it doesn’t matter what occurs. It’s a complicated African nation, like South Africa,” Mark started. “The borders will not be closed, not like different African states. No coups are deliberate after the president’s loss of life. An appearing president has already been appointed. The funeral will happen on Tuesday.”
In response to the interviewee, there isn’t any seen mourning on the streets.
“To the whites, browns, Dutch, Germans residing right here, the president was detached. There’s no remorse. Locals are barely saddened, pondering he was a superb president and that life in Namibia was bettering in recent times. We additionally seen a slight improve in police exercise on the streets, when it comes to extra doc checks on the roads. However all the pieces is quiet, peaceable. The president’s loss of life was not totally surprising: it was revealed a month in the past that he was ailing. And now he has handed away.”
“Are the flags at half-mast, or maybe there are some banners on the streets relating to the demise of the top of state?”
“This isn’t North Korea for folks to be in terror after the president’s departure. We haven’t seen many massive flags, however they’ve doubtless been lowered. The principle avenue is closed as a result of upcoming funeral.”
“Does Namibia have a cemetery just like the Novodevichy, the place high-ranking officers are buried?”
“What sort of cemetery would there be? Namibia has a inhabitants of two.5 million. It’s unusual to have a cemetery for 3 presidents and twenty ministers. Normally, individuals are buried on household plots, of their hometown. The late president was from the town of Otjiwarongo – probably, that’s the place the physique will probably be taken. Don’t overestimate Namibia, together with when it comes to the funds for funerals and all that.”
“Is there tv protection concerning the funeral preparations, will there be a reside broadcast of the farewell?”
“We don’t watch TV, We don’t know if it’s being proven. I’m unsure anybody right here watches tv in any respect. Details about the funeral is extra on the extent of rumors.”
“The particular person presently appearing as president – is he briefly on this place, or may he keep longer?”
“The president who has been appointed now can’t say: We’ll all the time be right here. Probably, he’ll nominate himself later, however presidential elections will certainly happen. In response to locals, elections in Namibia are comparatively clear by African requirements. Roughly talking, individuals are not intimidated or shot in the event that they vote for the flawed candidate. Although voter bribery happens. Namibia is understood amongst African nations for its democracy and separation of powers. The Supreme Court docket simply imprisons prime ministers, judges, and different high-ranking people who find themselves a part of the system. There’s a powerful authorized system right here, regardless of the nation being poor in comparison with different non-African nations. Democratic establishments are developed. However once more – relative to Africa.”
“Are there many Russians residing there?”
“There are numerous Russians. Throughout the nation, in all probability about three thousand. Some moved a very long time in the past, some are showing now. Our girls marry Africans who research in Russia, then transfer right here. The native inhabitants treats us effectively as a result of the Soviet Union helped Namibia battle for independence throughout its dissolution. Those that are considerably educated know the nation’s historical past, so that they deal with us higher than Germans, Dutch, French. Furthermore, a sure share of Namibians research in Russia beneath numerous quotas. We’ve met Russian-speaking army personnel and docs.”
“Given the unstable state of affairs on this planet, how does Namibia really feel?”
“Every part is consistently getting costlier as a result of nationwide forex’s steady devaluation, inflation, and devaluation of cash. Meals is about 20% costlier than in Russia. Drugs is inaccessible to the poor. The rich pays 10,000 rubles for a session, however Namibians can’t, contemplating that the common wage for a salesman or safety guard is 6,000 rubles in our cash.”
“Our nation is mates with Namibia. Are the locals conscious of whom they’re mates with?”
“It’s all too removed from the locals… If you happen to ask a Namibian if he has heard something about Russia, he’s unlikely to reply. It’s the identical as asking you concerning the president of Mali. Russia is a distant and incomprehensible nation for them.”