Geingob snubs Damara festival President Hage Geingob''s no-show at the Damara Traditional and Cultural Festival held at Okombahe over the weekend is water off a duck''s back, says the secretary-general of the Damara Chiefs'' Council, Abner Xoagub. Geingob was scheduled to deliver the keynote address at this year''s festival, which attracted a huge crowd, including members of parliament.
According to Xoagub they had not received a formal apology from State House.
“We were only called by the press secretary, Albertus Aochamub, who said the president would not be attending. Everything happened over the phone. I have discussed this with Chief Justus Garoëb and we agreed that there is nothing that we could do if he did not come,” said Xoagub.
The deputy leader of the Damara Chiefs'' Council, Immanuel /Gaseb, said: “I do not believe it is because he does not like us, he is a Damara so that cannot be the reason. He probably had something else to do.”
He added that the president might have been put off by chieftainship squabbles within the tribe.
The president was spotted at the Windhoek Jazz Festival at the weekend, where he appeared to be having a good time.
Aochamub could not be reached for comment yesterday.