NEW YEAR MESSAGE 31 DECEMBER 2019

Dr. Hage Geingob, President of the Republic of Namibia

New Year Message

New Year Message 31 December 2019

Fellow Namibians,

Good evening, Tonight, as you gather with family and friends in anticipation, and with expectant hearts the dawn of the Year 2020, I wish each one of you a happy, healthy and fulfilling New Year.

As we enter the Year 2020, we pause to undertake personal and collective introspection. We pause to take stock of the successes we have scored, the opportunities we have missed, the lessons we have learned and the improvements we need to make.

You will agree with me that 2019 was a challenging year for our country. In the middle of a depressed economy in which commodity prices have remained low, Mother Nature was not kind to us. We experienced one of the worst droughts in our recorded history, with adverse consequences on crop and livestock production. We were forced to declare a state of Drought Emergency, increasing pressure on our national budget. We pray to the Almighty that in the coming days and months, we will receive much needed rain, to revitalize our lands and bring much needed nourishment to our people and animals.

Despite the difficulties of 2019, as a resilient nation we have much to be proud of and have reasons to look forward to a better 2020.

Fellow Namibians,

Just over a month ago, Namibians participated in the 2019 Presidential and National Assembly Elections. As I stated during the rallies, this is not a war between enemies – but a contest between brothers and sisters. Without doubt, our 7th democratic elections were one of the most fiercely contested since our Independence in 1990. The spirited contestation by respective candidates and parties notwithstanding, the elections were conducted in a climate and spirit of peace. In democratic contestation, there are winners and losers.

I thank the people of Namibia, who are the true victors, for having ensured, through their maturity and orderly conduct, that Namibian democracy continues to mature. (...)

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