Namibia: Geingos defends family

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Namibia: Geingos defends family

3:41 CAT | 20 Sep 2017

The Namibian / Monica Geingos

Namibia’s First Lady Monica Geingos has had to publicly defend her family for accompanying her on a state trip to the United States of America this week.

Allegations are rife on social media which accuse Geingos of taking some of her relatives, including her parents and siblings, on the trip to New York for the 72nd session of the United Nations General Assembly that started last Tuesday.

The First Lady’s family is expected to stay in America until 29 September with Geingos.

The Namibian also understands that President Hage Geingob took along a large delegation of state officials at a time when the country’s financial situation is unstable.

Although Geingos denied the claims, State House sources told The Namibian that Geingos’ family was among those who went to the US at the expense of taxpayers.

The Namibian chapter of the Media Institute of Southern Africa’s country director, Natasha Tibinyane, on Monday questioned Geingos on social media whether the state was funding her family’s trip.

“I just heard that your family is there with you, including your parents. Was this also privately-funded, flights included?” Tibinyane asked Geingos.

Geingos replied by saying that it was a private visit, and is therefore privately-funded.

“Accountability around state funds is important, hence my engagement. Again, no state funds were used for the travel of a single family member,” Geingos added again later.

Tibinyane yesterday said Geingos had denied that her family was in New York at the expense of the state.

She added that Geingos had told her that she would provide the receipts to prove it. Geingos did not respond to messages sent to her on social media yesterday.

Source: The Namibian