Namibia president Hage Geingob died while receiving treatment in hospital, his vice-president has announced.
Vice-President Nangolo Mbumba said the 82-year-old died in hospital in Windhoek – the nation’s capital – in the early hours of Sunday morning.
Mbumba said: “The Namibian nation has lost a distinguished servant of the people, a liberation struggle icon, the chief architect of our constitution and the pillar of the Namibian house.
“At this moment of deepest sorrow, I appeal to the nation to remain calm and collected while the Government attends to all necessary state arrangements, preparations and other protocols.”
Geingob revealed he was being treated for cancer in January.
He had travelled to the United States for initial treatment but returned to Namibia on February 2.
In 2014 he survived prostate cancer and last year underwent an aortic operation.
Geingob was in his second term as president of the nation. He was elected in 2015.
