Hendrik Witbooi (politician)
Namibian politician (1934–2009)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Kaptein Hendrik Witbooi (traditional name ǃNanseb ǀGabemab; 7 January 1934 – 13 October 2009) was a Namibian politician and the seventh Captain of the ǀKhowesin clan.[1] A member of SWAPO from 1976 until his death, Witbooi brought with him several clans of Nama into the liberation organisation.
Hendrik Witbooi | |
|---|---|
| Deputy-Prime Minister of Namibia | |
| In office March 1990 – March 2005 | |
| President | Sam Nujoma |
| Preceded by | Position Established |
| Succeeded by | Libertina Amathila |
| Minister of Labour and Manpower Development | |
| In office 21 March 1990 – 1995 | |
| President | Sam Nujoma |
| Preceded by | Position Established |
| Personal details | |
| Born | January 7, 1934 |
| Died | October 13, 2009 (aged 75) |
| Party | SWAPO |
| Occupation | Politician |
Biography
Imprisoned numerous times during the Namibian War of Independence, Witbooi was first elected as Vice-President of SWAPO in 1984 and was re-elected for the last time in 1997. A member of the Constituent Assembly in 1989–90, Witbooi served in the National Assembly until his 2004 retirement, including a stint (1990-1995) as Minister of Labour and Manpower Development.[2]
Witbooi became Namibia's first Deputy-Prime Minister of Namibia in 1990. He served in that position until 2005.[3]
In October 2009 Witbooi was facing major medical problems and had slipped into a coma at the Roman Catholic Hospital in Windhoek.[4] He died on 13 October due to cancer.[5]
Witbooi was the great-grandson of Hendrik Witbooi, the early resistance leader who led his chiefly followers against European colonisation.[1]
