By Elvis Muraranganda

Former First Lady and executive chairperson of the One Economy Foundation Monica Geingos has revealed her 10-year plan, adding that she has no interest in joining politics or returning to the corporate world. 
Instead, Geingos says that her focus is on leadership training and mentorship as well as prioritizing youth development across Africa. She made these remarks during the 10th anniversary celebration and fundraising soirée of the One Economy Foundation in Windhoek recently. The event raised a total of N$3,422,900.
 

“I get asked to many times about politics and my answer will not change it will remain the same. I am a coach. I am not a player. Somebody has to be a coach, we cannot all be players,” Geingos explained. 
“If you put a striker in a goalkeeper’s position, they will be terrible. So know your position. I know my position,” she added. 
Geingos also poured cold water on possibilities of returning to the corporate world adding: “There are things that matter to me more than they did before. There are also things that do not matter to me anymore. There are things once you see them, you cannot ‘unsee’ them.
 

“There are things I must do here and I will be around. That is why I will not return to the corporate world.”
 Furthermore, Geingos indicated that over the next decade she will divert her attention to four key priority areas which includes setting-up a presidential library in honour of her late husband, President Dr. Hage Geingob. 
She mentioned that they are hard at work with former Speaker of the National Assembly Prof. Peter Katjavivi, who is the chairperson of the library, in realising this dream. 
 

Geingos revealed that another vision is to establish a leadership lab in Kigali, Rwanda, where young people from across the continent will learn and lead.
 

Other priority areas, according to Geingos, is her work as an advocate for the United Nation’s Sustainable Development and her chancellorship of the Kepler College, also in Rwanda.
“I also do…faculty work with Harvard on African leadership.  
The things that I will be busy with have a lot to do with leadership, particularly of young people.”

A DECADE
Turning her attention to the One Economy Foundation, which she founded a decade ago, Geingos said: "In 10 years, we have raised N$100 million. 
 

Most of it went to infrastructure because we had to build something visible, tangible. 
That is how we earned trust. That is how we created a blueprint for impact." 
She maintained: “Visit the #BeFree Youth Campus, and you will see the results. 
Through the clinic and psychosocial services as well as career training, self-defence, robotics and mental health support, the Campus is where dreams turn into skills.” 
 

The foundation’s executive director, Pauline Thomas Kahupi echoed Geingos’ words adding: "Let this evening remind us that the legacy we are weaving is active, present and alive. It lives in every young person we have engaged.”