The Bank of Namibia launched the Dr. Hage Gottfried Geingob commemorative banknote on March 5, 2025 to honor the legacy of H. E. Dr. Hage G. Geingob, a statesman whose leadership was instrumental in shaping Namibia's democratic institutions and fostering national unity. His vision now lives on in a special way through the Dr. Hage G. Geingob commemorative banknote. The denomination of 60 was chosen to represent Dr. Geingob's commitment of 60 years to the Namibian nation.
Bank of Namibia Governor, Johannes !Gawaxab, launched the new banknote at the Mercure Hotel in Windhoek, along with Madam Monica Geingob, former first lady and widow of Hage Geingob, H. E. Dr. Ndemupelila Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, current Vice-President and President-Elect of Namibia, and keynote speaker, President Nangolo Mbumba, the fourth and current president of Namibia, who became president upon the death of Dr. Geingob.
The President highlighted that Dr. Geingob's legacy is deeply rooted in his commitment to unity, inclusivity, and social justice. "His dedication to inclusivity and unity was a hallmark of his leadership. He envisioned and championed the 'One Namibian House,' a metaphor that resonates deeply. His policies reflected this vision, from advancing social grants for the vulnerable and elderly to ensuring that all Namibians, regardless of their ethnicity and gender, had a place in the story of our nation," said President Mbumba. The Vice President and President-elect, Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, echoed the sentiments of the President, emphasizing that Namibia must move forward while upholding the dreams and aspirations of the late Dr. Sam Nujoma, the Founding President and Father of the Namibian Nation whom Namibia laid to rest over the weekend. She highlighted that the vision of Dr. Nujoma and Dr. Geingob for an inclusive Namibia premised on unity in diversity should be Namibia's guiding principle.
Hage Gottfried Geingob (August 3, 1941 – February 4, 2024) was a Namibian politician who served as the third president of Namibia from 2015 until his death in February 2024. Dr. Geingob was the first prime minister of Namibia from 1990 to 2002, and served again from 2012 to 2015. Between 2008 and 2012 he had served as Minister of Trade and Industry. In November 2014, he was elected President of Namibia by an overwhelming margin. In November 2017, he became the third president of the ruling SWAPO Party after winning by a large margin at the party's sixth Congress. He served as the party's president until his death. Dr. Geingob had also been a member of the Constituent Assembly beginning in 1989, when he returned to Namibia with many of his colleagues after a 27-year absence from the country. On November 21, 1989, after the elections, he was elected chairman of the Constituent Assembly, which was responsible for formulating the Namibian Constitution, adopted on February 9, 1990.
The front of the banknote features a large portrait at left of the former president, who also appears facing to the right in the transparent window on the right. The secondary transparent window on the left shows the Independence Memorial Museum in Windhoek. The windows of the museum were used to create transparent windows in the polymer banknote, reflecting the building's architecture. The background image reproduces a photo of the elected Constituent Assembly that wrote the Constitution of Namibia.
The reverse of the banknote shows Dr. Geingob holding the Dr. Hage Geingob Cup, symbolizing his contributions to Namibian football and community development. In the background we see images that highlight the strides taken in sustainable energy under Dr. Geingob's leadership. A quote from Dr. Geingob, "This beautiful house we call Namibia," dated March 21, 2015, is included at lower center. Namibia's coat of arms appears at top right.
Designed by De La Rue, the new polymer banknote was printed on De La Rue's Safeguard® polymer substrate. This state-of-the-art commemorative banknote is not only more sustainable, but it also incorporates the latest innovations in anti-counterfeiting technology. As mentioned above, it features two clear windows, with the main window depicting a complex portrait of Dr. Geingob. Embedded micro text reading "Forward Ever, Backward Never, 60" pays tribute to Dr. Geingob's philosophy, while raised tactile dots ensure accessibility for the visually impaired. Additional security features such as ARGENTUM™, a highly reflective mirror-like ink, and ILLUMINATE™, which builds up texture and intrigue around the window, along with Enhanced GEMINI™ that appears only under ultraviolet light (revealing hidden design elements such as the Namibian flag and a glowing "60" numeral), have been incorporated into the design to further secure the polymer banknote. Johannes !Gawaxab, Bank of Namibia Governor, signed the banknote.
The new Dr. Hage G. Geingob commemorative banknote will be officially issued on March 17, 2025. To ensure that Namibians fully appreciate the significance of this commemorative banknote, the Bank of Namibia will roll out an extensive public education campaign to familiarize the nation with the unique features of this commemorative banknote ahead of its official issuance. The Dr. Hage G. Geingob commemorative banknote will circulate alongside existing banknotes and coins serving both as legal tender and a collector's item. This banknote symbolizes the Bank of Namibia's commitment to preserving national identity through currency while honoring key figures and milestones that have shaped the country's history.
It was additionally announced that Namibia will issue an entirely new series of Namibian currency in June 2025.
