Nuukunde

NAHAS ANGULA

Nahas Gideon Angula (born 22 August1943)is a Namibian who has been Prime Minister of Namibia since 2005.

Early life and exile

Angula was born in Onyaanya, Oshiko­to Region on August 22 1943. He obtained his schooling at Onyaanya Primary School and Oniipa Boy’s School 1959. He achieved St. 6 at Engela Boy’s School in 1961. Angula obtained St. 8 at Oshigambo Junior Secondary School and visited the Ongwediva Training College 1962

Angula joined SWAPO in 1963 and left for exile in 1965. During this time he worked for Radio Zambia from 1973 to 1976 and for the United Nations as a civil servant from 1976 to 1980 before becoming a SWAPO organizer in 1980. After completing his secondary schooling and gaining a first degree in Zambia, he founded and ran an education centre for Namibian refugees near Lusaka. In 1976 he moved to the US where he undertook studies at Columbia University and worked at the UN headquarters in New York.

Angula joined the SWAPO Central Committee in 1980 and was appointed Secretary for Information and Publicity, based in Luanda, Angola. In 1982 he was given the portfolio that reflected his true calling – that of Secretary for Education and Culture. Angula was instrumental in shaping SWAPO’s education system – which was applied in the movement’s schools in Zambia, Angola, Congo (Brazzaville), Cuba, East Germany, and Czechoslovakia.Angula is widely regarded as an effective public speaker and often uses his sense of humour to win over sceptics.He has been a member of the Swapo Politburo since 1985. Angula, who has written several essays and articles on Pan-Africanism, is an eminent board member of the Pan Afrikan Centre of Namibia (Pacon) and a member of the international think tank, Twenty First Century Trust

When fighting broke out on April 1 1989, Angula led a SWAPO delegation that negotiated a new ceasefire that put the peace plan, envisaged in Resolution 435, back on track.

After Namibian independence

At independence in 1990 Angula was appointed Minister of Education, Culture, Youth and Sport. Five years later he was shifted to the new Ministry of Higher Education, Vocational Training, Science and Technology (later to be renamed Ministry of Higher Education, Training and Employment Creation).He has been a member of the National Asssembly since 1990.

Angula is a popular figure within SWAPO and in 2002 he came first in elections for seats on the party’s Central Committee. In April 2004 he threw his hat into the ring as a contender for the SWAPO presidential nomination, after Sam Nujoma confirmed he would be retiring as Head of State. At the SWAPO Extraordinary Congress at the end of May 2004, Angula trailed the other two candidates, gaining 137 of the 516 votes available. In the run-off ballot between Hifikepunye Pohamba and Hidipo Hamutenya, nearly all Angula’s votes went to the victor Pohamba.Angula was expected to play a prominent role in the new Cabinet since his supporters had backed Pohamba in the second round of voting at the Congress to choose SWAPO’s presidential candidate in May 2004.

After ten years heading the low profile Higher Education Ministry, Nahas Angula’s star rose in 2005when he was appointed Prime Minister in President Hifikepunye Pohamba’s new government.He is a member of the Luther­an church, as has been his family for genera­tion.

Education

MA, M Ed, Columbia Teachers College, New York, USA (1977-78). B Ed, University of Zambia (1973).

Career

Prime Minister since 2005. Minister of Higher Education, Training and Employment Creation (2000-2005). Minister of Higher Education, Vocational Training, Science and Technology (1995-2000). Minister of Education and Culture (1992-1995). Minister of Education, Culture, Youth and Sport (1990-91). Member of the National Assembly since 1990. Member of Constituent Assembly (1989-90). SWAPO Secretary for Education and Culture (1982-1989). SWAPO Secretary for Information and Publicity (1981). International civil servant at the United Nations, New York (1976-80). Founder and teacher, Namibia Education Centre, Lusaka, Zambia (1974-76). Teacher at the Evelyn Hone College of Arts and Commerce, Lusaka, Zambia (1973).