Zephania Kameeta | |
|---|---|
| Bishop | |
 | |
| Church | Evangelical Lutheran Church in the Republic of Namibia |
| In office | 2002–2013 |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 7 August 1945 |
Zephania Kameeta (born 7 August 1945 in Otjimbingwe, Erongo Region) is a Namibian religious and political leader. [1] Since March 2015, he has been the Namibian Minister of Poverty Eradication and Social Welfare. [2]
Kameeta studied at the Paulinum Seminary at Otjimbingwe from 1968 to 1971. [3] He was ordained as a minister of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in 1972, and taught at the Paulinum Seminary from 1973, serving as its principal 1976–77. [4]
Kameeta served as a parish minister in Lüderitz from 1978 to 1981. He was elected vice-president of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in 1982 and deputy bishop in 1985. [4] Between 2002 and 2013 Kameeta was bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in the Republic of Namibia (ELCRN). [5] From 2003 to 2010 he also served as the Lutheran World Federation's vice-president for the Africa region. [6]
Kameeta is an exponent of liberation theology. [7] [8] He is best known for his rendition of Psalm 23 which he wrote in 1973:
The Lord is my shepherd;
I have everything I need.
He lets me see a country of justice and peace
And directs my steps towards this land.
He gives me power.
He guides me in the paths of victory,
As he has promised
Even if a full scale violent confrontation breaks out
I will not be afraid, Lord,
For you are with me.
Your shepherd's power and love protect me.
You prepare me for my freedom,
Where all my enemies can see it;
You welcome me as an honoured guest
And fill my cup with righteousness and peace.
I know that your goodness and love
Will be with me all my life; and your liberating love will be my home
As long as I live. [9] [10]
This poem was later published in his Why, O Lord?: Psalms and Sermons from Namibia (Augsburg Fortress, 1986) and included in Pocket Prayers for Peace and Justice (Church House Publishing, 2004). [9] [11] [12]
In 1975, Kameeta founded the Namibia National Convention, a group founded to promote Black Consciousness. [10] He was arrested by the South African authorities for protesting against the Turnhalle Constitutional Conference. [3]
Kameeta served as a member of the Central Committee of the South West Africa People's Organisation (SWAPO) from 1977 to 2002. [1] When Namibia became independent in 1990 he was elected as a SWAPO member of the National Assembly, becoming its first Deputy Speaker. [1] In 1997 he was elected to SWAPO's Politburo where he remained until 2002. [1]
Before Namibia's independence Kameeta was arrested and imprisoned by the South African government. [13]
After the country's independence in 1990, he was elected to the Constituent Assembly and the first and second Parliament of the Republic of Namibia, serving as deputy speaker of the National Assembly. [6]
He has been serving as chairperson of Namibia's Social Security Commission. [6]
Kameeta was one of the pioneers of the Basic Income Grant Coalition. [14] In 2015, he was appointed Minister for Poverty Eradication and Social Welfare. [15]
Kameeta has albinism. His prominent role in society has helped others with albinism gain better understanding and acceptance. [16]
On Heroes' Day 2014 he was conferred the Most Brilliant Order of the Sun, First Class. [17]
Samuel Shafiishuna Daniel Nujoma, is a Namibian revolutionary, anti-apartheid activist and politician who served three terms as the first President of Namibia, from 1990 to 2005. Nujoma was a founding member and the first president of the South West Africa People's Organization (SWAPO) in 1960. Prior to 1960, SWAPO was known as the Ovambo People's Organisation (OPO). He played an important role as leader of the national liberation movement in campaigning for Namibia's political independence from South African rule. He established the People's Liberation Army of Namibia (PLAN) in 1962 and launched a guerrilla war against the apartheid government of South Africa in August 1966 at Omugulugwombashe, beginning after the United Nations withdrew the mandate for South Africa to govern the territory. Nujoma led SWAPO during the lengthy Namibian War of Independence, which lasted from 1966 to 1989.
Karibib is a town in the Erongo Region of western Namibia. It has 3,800 inhabitants and owns 97 square kilometres (37 sq mi) of town land. Karibib is the district capital of the Karibib electoral constituency. It is situated on the Khan River, halfway between Windhoek and Swakopmund on the B2, the main road between Walvis Bay and Johannesburg. The town is known for its aragonite marble quarries and the Navachab Gold Mine.
Nahas Gideon Angula is a Namibian politician who served as the third Prime Minister of Namibia from 21 March 2005 to 4 December 2012. He was succeeded by Hage Geingob in a cabinet reshuffle after the 2012 SWAPO Party congress. He subsequently served as Minister of Defence from 2012 to 2015.
Hage Gottfried Geingob was a Namibian politician who served as the third president of Namibia from 2015 until his death in February 2024. Geingob was the first Prime Minister of Namibia from 1990 to 2002, and served as prime minister again from 2012 to 2015. Between 2008 and 2012 Geingob served as Minister of Trade and Industry.
Herman Andimba Toivo ya Toivo was a Namibian anti-apartheid activist, politician and political prisoner. Ya Toivo was active in the pre-independence movement, and is one of the co-founders of the South West African People's Organisation (SWAPO) in 1960, and before that, its predecessor the Ovamboland People's Organization (OPO) in 1959.
Otjimbingwe is a settlement in the Erongo Region of central Namibia. Otjimbingwe has approximately 8,000 inhabitants and belongs to the Karibib electoral constituency.
The Diocese of Namibia is part of the Anglican Church of Southern Africa, which is itself part of the Anglican Communion. The diocese, which covers the whole country of Namibia, was originally known as the Diocese of Damaraland. Most of the Anglicans in Namibia live in Ovamboland in the north of the country and speak the Oshikwanyama language.
Carl Hugo Hahn (1818–1895) was a Baltic German missionary and linguist who worked in South Africa and South-West Africa for most of his life. Together with Franz Heinrich Kleinschmidt, he set up the first Rhenish mission station to the Herero people in Gross Barmen. Hahn is known for his scientific work on the Herero language.
Religion in Namibia is dominated by various branches of Christianity, with more than 90 percent of Namibian citizens identifying themselves as Christian. According to the government's survey, in 2013 up to 75% of the country was Protestant, including as much as 50% Lutheran.
Joel Natangwe Kaapanda is a Namibian diplomat and politician. A member of the South West Africa People's Organization (SWAPO), Kaapanda was Namibia's first High Commissioner to India from 1995 to 2002 before becoming member of parliament, and subsequently minister.
Reverend Ngeno-Zach Nakamhela is a Namibian priest in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Namibia (ELCIN). From 1992 to 1999, he played a prominent role in Namibian politics as General Secretary of the Council of Churches in Namibia (CCN). As head of the CCN, the Lutheran leader called for an end to the Namibia Defence Force's involvement in the Second Congo War. He was also active in campaign's for an end to domestic violence and promoting the rights of older people. In 2001, he became the pastor of an inner city congregation in Windhoek.
The Evangelical Lutheran Church in the Republic of Namibia is a Lutheran denomination based in Namibia. It has a total membership of about 420,000.
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.
Shekutaamba Väinö yaVäinö Nambala is a retired Bishop in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Namibia.
Tomas Iimbondi Shivute is a bishop emeritus of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Namibia. Shivute is the son of Sakaria Nehoya lyaShivute shaNdjongolo and Rauha Namunyela gweEgumbo.
Josafat Shanghala (Kashindi) (b. 8 June 1944 Nakayale, Outapi, Ombalantu, Namibia) is a bishop emeritus of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Namibia.
Chiwempe Johannes Sindano is a bishop emeritus of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Namibia (ELCIN). He was born in Muye, Mexico, Angola.
Aino Kapewangolo is a Namibian pastor and politician. Kapewangolo is a SWAPO Party member and pastor of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Namibia (ELCIN). She served as a member of Parliament in the National Assembly from 2015-2020. She also served as a Deputy Minister of Poverty Eradication and Social Welfare.
Rev. Heikki Hausiku Ausiku (1944) is a Namibian politician who served as the Ambassador to Cuba (1991–1999). He is a member of South West Africa People's Organisation (SWAPO) party and was a member of the National Assembly of Namibia from 1989 to 1990. He was the former mayor of Nkurenkuru. He also served as a traditional councilor at Kwangali Traditional Authority in 2010. He was appointed as the special advisor to Sirkka Ausiku in 2014.
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