Peter Katjavivi | |
---|---|
Speaker of the National Assembly | |
Assumed office 20 March 2015 | |
President | Hage Geingob (2015–2024) Nangolo Mbumba (since 2024) |
Preceded by | Theo-Ben Gurirab |
Vice-Chancellor of the University of Namibia | |
In office 1992–2003 | |
Succeeded by | Lazarus Hangula |
Chancellor of the Namibia University of Science and Technology | |
Assumed office October 2016 | |
Deputy | Tjama Tjivikua |
Personal details | |
Born | Okahandja South-West Africa | 12 May 1941
Nationality | Namibian |
Political party | SWAPO |
Spouse | Jane Katjavivi (1981–2022) |
Children | 5 (including Perivi Katjavivi) |
Occupation | Politician |
Profession | Professor |
Peter Hitjitevi Katjavivi (born 12 May 1941) is a Namibian politician who is the Speaker of the National Assembly of Namibia since March 2015 and the chancellor of the Namibia University of Science and Technology from 1992 to 2003. Previously he was the founding Vice-Chancellor of the University of Namibia from 1992 to 2003,Ambassador to the European Union from 2003 to 2006,Ambassador to Germany from 2006 to 2008,and Director General of the National Planning Commission from 2008 to 2010. [1] [2]
Peter Katjavivi was born in Okahandja,and attended a primary school in Windhoek,then the Augustineum Secondary School in Okahandja (1960–61) and the Government College Umuahia,Nigeria (1963-1966). In 1966/67 he began studying History,Law and Political Science at the University of Dar es Salaam,Tanzania. Katjavivi joined SWAPO in the 1960s and was head of SWAPO's overseas offices in London. In 1986 he obtained a doctorate (DPhil) at St Antony's College,Oxford.
In 1989,he was a member of the Constituent Assembly of Namibia. From 1992 to 2003 he was Vice-Chancellor of the University of Namibia,the foundation of which he had significant influence. Katjavivi was a member of numerous national and international educational,cultural and research organizations. He served as President of the Namibia Economic Policy Research Unit beginning in 1990,as Chairman of the Council of National Monuments (now the National Heritage Council of Namibia) from 1992 to 2000,and as an Executive Council Member of UNESCO from 1993 to 1997. From 2003 to 2006 he was Namibia's Ambassador to the European Union in Brussels,and from 2006 to 2008,Ambassador to Germany. He was appointed as Director-General of the National Planning Commission on 8 April 2008. [3]
Following the November 2009 parliamentary election,President Hifikepunye Pohamba appointed Katjavivi to the National Assembly as one of the six non-voting members of parliament appointed by the President for the term that began in March 2010. [4] Subsequently,he was SWAPO's Chief Whip in the National Assembly. He was elected to the National Assembly in the November 2014 parliamentary election as a SWAPO candidate. [5] When the National Assembly began sitting for its new term on 20 March 2015,Katjavivi was sworn in as Speaker of Parliament,succeeding Theo-Ben Gurirab. [6] [7] In 2016 he was appointed chancellor of the Namibia University of Science and Technology (NUST). [8] In 2018 he was awarded a Honorary Doctorate from the University of Bath.
Katjavivi was married to a British woman Jane,and has five children. Besides his native Herero he speaks five other languages.[ citation needed ]
The South West Africa People's Organisation,officially known as the SWAPO Party of Namibia,is a political party and former independence movement in Namibia. Founded in 1960,it has been the governing party in Namibia since the country achieved independence in 1990. The party continues to be dominated in number and influence by the Ovambo ethnic group.
Theo-Ben Gurirab was a Namibian politician who served in various senior government positions. He served as the second Prime Minister of Namibia from 28 August 2002 to 20 March 2005,following the demotion and subsequent resignation of Hage Geingob. Previously he was the country's first Minister of Foreign Affairs from 1990 to 2002,and was President of the United Nations General Assembly from 1999 to 2000. He was Speaker of the National Assembly of Namibia from 2005 to 2015,when he was replaced by Peter Katjavivi. Gurirab ultimately resigned from politics in 2015.
Hidipo Livius Hamutenya was a Namibian politician. A long time leading member of the South West Africa People's Organization (SWAPO),Hamutenya was a member of the Cabinet of Namibia from independence in 1990 to 2004,serving in several important ministerial portfolios. He was defeated in a bid for the party's presidential nomination in 2004 and left SWAPO to form an opposition group,the Rally for Democracy and Progress (RDP),in 2007. He was elected to the National Assembly of Namibia with RDP in the 2009 general election. He was forced to step down as RDP president on 28 February 2015 and rejoined SWAPO on 28 August 2015.
Hifikepunye Lucas Pohamba is a Namibian politician who served as the second president of Namibia from 21 March 2005 to 21 March 2015. He won the 2004 presidential election overwhelmingly as the candidate of SWAPO,and was reelected in 2009. Pohamba was the president of SWAPO from 2007 until his retirement in 2015. He is a recipient of the Ibrahim Prize.
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The Namibia University of Science and Technology (NUST),formerly known as Polytechnic of Namibia,is a public university located in the city of Windhoek,Namibia. NUST was headed by the founding vice-chancellor Tjama Tjivikua until March 2019. After two acting appointments,Erold Naomab was appointed vice-chancellor in January 2021. The largely ceremonial role of chancellor of the university is held by Peter Katjavivi.
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Monica Nashandi is a Namibian diplomat and politician. Nashandi was Namibia's ambassador to Scandinavian countries as well as the former High Commissioner to the United Kingdom. Nashandi was removed from the SWAPO list for the 2009 general election because she had not registered to vote,a requirement under Namibian law. Nashandi was Namibia's ambassador to the United States of America from 2019 to 2020.
Nikolaus Onverwag 'Niko' Bessinger was a Namibian politician and independence activist.
Hadino Timothy Hishongwa was a Namibian politician,diplomat,parliamentarian,and a founding member of SWAPO.
The Augustineum Secondary School,established in 1866,is among the oldest schools in Namibia. Originally situated in Otjimbingwe,it was relocated to Okahandja in 1890,and finally to Windhoek in 1968. Previously also known as the Augustineum Training College and today the Augustineum Secondary School,it is a public school located in Khomasdal,a suburb of Windhoek.
Jafet Penda Ya Ndakolo is a Namibian SWAPO politician and current governor of Oshikoto Region. He served as Minister of Defence from 2015 to 2020. After losing his position as minister in 2020 he was appointed to his old position as governor again.
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