Namibian president welcomed at Parliament

2012-11-06 14:29

President Jacob Zuma is seen with his Namibian counterpart Hifikepunye Pohamba at a welcoming ceremony at Parliament in Cape Town. (Sapa)

Cape Town - Namibian President Hifikepunye Pohamba was officially welcomed to the country amid much fanfare in Parliament on Tuesday.

Pohamba is on an official state visit to South Africa. President Jacob Zuma received Pohamba at Tuynhuys before walking him down a red carpet laid out for the ceremony.

A SA National Defence Force band played as Zuma and Pohamba made their way past a line of Namibian and South African officials.

They stopped under a marquee and were saluted by navy officers decked out in white, each armed with an R-4 rifle.

The Namibian and South African anthems reverberated through the parliamentary precinct as the two leaders watched.

Zuma then led his Namibian counterpart to Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe and several colourfully dressed Cabinet ministers, who lined up to shake Pohamba's hand.

Pohamba, Zuma, Motlanthe, and the ministers then disappeared into Tuynhuys for discussions. The outcome of the discussions, which would culminate in the signing of several agreements, would be announced later on Tuesday at a media briefing.

Pohamba was expected to address the National Assembly on Tuesday afternoon.

- SAPA