Namibia’s President Hage Geingob has declared a three-day period of national mourning for late Zambian president Rupiah Banda who died last week.
In a statement on Wednesday, Geingob announced that that mourning period would run from 16 to 18 March, the day on which the late Zambian leader is expected to be buried.
“During the period of national mourning, the National Flag of the Republic of Namibia and the African Union flag will fly at half-mast,” Geingob said.
Geingob described Banda as a “dependable friend” who championed the cause of the Namibian people during his time as president of the United Nations Council for Namibia in the 1970s.
Banda succumbed to cancer of the colon on March 11. He has been unwell for the past two years.
He was president of Zambia from 2008 to 2011, and will be interred at the Presidential Burial Site in the Zambian capital Lusaka on Friday.
JN/APA