Ella Kamanya
Ella Ndatega Kamanya (9 November 1961 – 31 July 2005) was a Namibian politician and businesswoman.[1] She joined the South West Africa People's Organization (SWAPO) in exile in 1978 and survived the Battle of Cassinga by the South African Army. Kamaya was appointed to the National Assembly of Namibia in 2003, replacing Hage Geingob. In March 2004, Kamanya was appointed to the Pan-African Parliament.
Controversy
In March 2004, Kamanya faced criticism for alleged graft in deals related to Black Economic Empowerment transactions and the San community of Namibia. She denied the allegations and died in July 2005.[2]
Personal
Kamanya was born on 9 November 1961 in Onangalo, Uukwaluudhi Kingdom, Ovamboland. Her father was a prominent local politician and businessperson. She grew up in a devoutly Christian family.[3] In 1978, she joined SWAPO in exile and, shortly after arriving in Cassinga, Angola, the encampment she and other Namibian exiles and refugees were based in was raided by the South African Defence Force. She was captured during the May 1978 Battle of Cassinga, returned to South-West Africa, and subsequently incarcerated in Oshakati.[3]
A businesswoman by profession, Kamanya ran movie theaters in Ongwediva and Ondangwa before joining the National Assembly. She requested to be buried in northern Namibia.[1]
References
- ^ a b Ex-MP Kamanya dies in The Namibian, 1 August 2005
- ^ Kamanya accuses shareholders of tryig to wrest company from her Archived 25 August 2005 at the Wayback Machine The Namibian, 5 March 2004
- ^ a b Shiremo, Shampapi (8 April 2011). "Ella Ndatega Kamanya:...A humble, but determined woman". New Era. Archived from the original on 21 February 2013. Retrieved 8 January 2012.
- Use dmy dates from September 2012
- 1961 births
- 2005 deaths
- People from Omusati Region
- Members of the Pan-African Parliament from Namibia
- Members of SWAPO
- Members of the National Assembly (Namibia)
- Namibian women in business
- SWAPO politicians
- Namibian expatriates in Angola
- Prisoners and detainees of South Africa
- Namibian people imprisoned abroad
- Namibian exiles
- Women members of the Pan-African Parliament