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Nangolo Mbumba

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His Excellency
Nangolo Mbumba
Headshot of a speaking Mbuma in front of the green walls of the UN Building
Mbumba speaking during the 79th United Nations General Assembly in 2024
4th President of Namibia
Incumbent
Assumed office
4 February 2024
Prime MinisterSaara Kuugongelwa
Vice PresidentNetumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah
Preceded byHage Geingob
2nd Vice-President of Namibia
In office
13 February 2018 – 4 February 2024
PresidentHage Geingob
Preceded byNickey Iyambo
Succeeded byNetumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah
Chancellor of the University of Namibia[1]
Incumbent
Assumed office
28 February 2018
PresidentHage Geingob
Preceded byHifikepunye Pohamba
Secretary-General of SWAPO
In office
December 2012 – November 2017
PresidentHifikepunye Pohamba
Hage Geingob
Preceded byPendukeni Iivula-Ithana
Succeeded bySophia Shaningwa
Minister of Safety and Security
In office
2010 – 4 December 2012
PresidentHifikepunye Pohamba
Preceded byNickey Iyambo
Succeeded byImmanuel Ngatjizeko
Minister of Education
In office
2005–2010
PresidentHifikepunye Pohamba
Preceded byNahas Angula
Succeeded byAbraham Iyambo
Minister of Information and Broadcasting
In office
2003–2005
PresidentSam Nujoma
Preceded byTheo-Ben Gurirab
Succeeded byNetumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah
Minister of Finance
In office
1996–2003
PresidentSam Nujoma
Preceded byHelmut Angula
Succeeded bySaara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila
Minister of Agriculture, Water and Rural Development
In office
1993–1996
PresidentSam Nujoma
Preceded byAnton von Wietersheim
Succeeded byHelmut Angula
Personal details
Born (1941-08-15) 15 August 1941 (age 83)
Olukonda, South West Africa (now Namibia)
NationalityNamibian
Political partySWAPO
SpouseSustjie Mbumba
Alma materSouthern Connecticut State University (BS)
University of Connecticut (MS)
Occupation

Nangolo Mbumba (born 15 August 1941) is a Namibian politician who is the fourth and current president of Namibia. He became president after the death of Hage Geingob, under whom he had served as the second vice-president of Namibia from 2018 to 2024.

A member of the South West Africa People's Organization (SWAPO), Mbumba has headed several Namibian Government ministries: Agriculture, Water and Rural Development (1993–1996), Finance (1996–2003), Information and Broadcasting (2003–2005), Education (2005–2010) and Safety and Security (2010–2012). From 2012 to 2017, he was the secretary-general of SWAPO.

He was appointed vice-president in 2018 to replace Nickey Iyambo, who departed because of ill health. He succeeded to the presidency upon the death of Hage Geingob in February 2024 and announced that he had no intention of running for election.[2]

Education and early career

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Born on 15 August 1941 in Olukonda, Oshikoto Region, South West Africa (now Namibia),[3] Mbumba graduated from Southern Connecticut State University in the United States with a BSc in 1971. In 1973, he graduated from the University of Connecticut with an MSc in biology.[4]

After graduating from the University in Connecticut, Mbumba began teaching at Harlem Preparatory School in New York City. Returning to Africa in 1978, he became the Head of the Science Department at the Namibia Education Centre in Cuanza Sul, Angola. In 1980, he was promoted to Principal of the Centre. He held that post until 1985.[5]

Politics

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Mbumba officially took a position with SWAPO in 1985 as Deputy Secretary for Education and Culture. Leaving that position in 1987, he became Personal Secretary to SWAPO President Sam Nujoma. He was the joint administrator of Walvis Bay during its handover to Namibia in 1994.[6][7]

Beginning in 1993, Mbumba served in the National Assembly of Namibia and government ministries including Agriculture, Water and Rural Development (1993–1996),[8] Finance (1996–2003), Information and Broadcasting (2003–2005), Education (2005–2010), and Safety and Security (2010–2012).[4]

Mbumba was elected SWAPO Secretary-General at its 2012 congress, a position considered #3 in the party's structure. He won with 352 votes against Utoni Nujoma's 244 and pledged before the election that he would resign from his ministerial position if successful.[9] On 4 December 2012, Immanuel Ngatjizeko was appointed to replace him as Minister of Safety and Security in the Cabinet reshuffle that followed the congress.[10]

Mbumba as vice-president in 2023

When Nickey Iyambo, Namibia's first vice president, was removed from the position in 2018 due to poor health, President Hage Geingob appointed Mbumba as his successor.[11][12]

President of Namibia (2024-present)

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Nangolo Mbumba became acting president of Namibia when President Hage Geingob traveled to the United States for cancer treatment on 24 January 2024.[13] He was sworn in about 15 hours after Geingob's death on 4 February 2024 by Chief Justice Peter Shivute at the State House in Windhoek and appointed Deputy Prime Minister Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah to be his successor as Vice President. She was fielded by Geingob as the SWAPO presidential candidate for the 2024 Namibian general election, as his successor.[14][15][16] Mbumba pledged to finish Geingob's term, which expires on 21 March 2025, adding: "I am not going to be around for the elections. So don't panic."[17]

Mbumba was honored with Namibia’s highest award, The Most Ancient Order of Welwitschia Mirabilis.[18] This award is named after Namibia’s iconic desert plant, and this accolade is the highest national honor recognizing individuals who have made significant contributions to the country.[19] Former President Hifikepunye Pohamba presented Mbumba with the award and sash, symbolizing his role as Head of State.[19]

References

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  1. ^ "Vice President Mbumba takes the baton at University of Namibia | Namibia Economist". Archived from the original on 19 December 2022. Retrieved 28 February 2018.
  2. ^ Nyaungwa, Nyasha (4 February 2024). "Namibia interim president says no plan to run in this year's election". Reuters.
  3. ^ "Nangolo Mbumba Profile". www.africa-confidential.com. Africa Confidential. Archived from the original on 25 July 2022. Retrieved 25 July 2022.
  4. ^ a b "The Vice President. His Excellecny (sic!) Nangolo Mbumba". Office of the President. Archived from the original on 27 January 2020. Retrieved 19 March 2020.
  5. ^ From school principal to Presidency… The rise and rise of Nangolo Mbumba
  6. ^ Mbumba, Nangolo (Resigned), Parliament of Namibia
  7. ^ Walvis marks 20 years of reintegration
  8. ^ "Namibia's First Cabinet". 30th Independence anniversary supplement to several Namibian newspapers. March 2020. pp. 6–7.
  9. ^ Immanuel, Shinovene; Shipanga, Selma (3 December 2012). "Moderates prevail". The Namibian. Archived from the original on 7 December 2012. Retrieved 3 December 2012.
  10. ^ Selma Shipanga and Shinovene Immanuel, "Transition team picked" Archived 2012-12-06 at the Wayback Machine, The Namibian, 5 December 2012.
  11. ^ Matthys, Donald (8 February 2018). "President reshuffles Cabinet—Vice President relieved of duties". Namibia Economist. Archived from the original on 14 February 2018. Retrieved 18 February 2018.
  12. ^ "Nangolo Mbumba being sworn in as the new Vice President of Namibia". The Villager. 12 February 2018. Archived from the original on 21 December 2021. Retrieved 21 April 2018.
  13. ^ Mbathera, Ester (28 January 2024). "Politicians support Geingob on US cancer treatment". The Namibian. Archived from the original on 4 February 2024. Retrieved 4 February 2024.
  14. ^ "Namibia's President Hage Geingob dies aged 82". Al Jazeera. Archived from the original on 4 February 2024. Retrieved 4 February 2024.
  15. ^ "Nangolo Mbumba sworn in as Namibia's fourth President", The Star Kenya, archived from the original on 4 February 2024, retrieved 4 February 2024
  16. ^ "Hage Geingob: Namibia's president dies aged 82". BBC. 4 February 2024. Archived from the original on 4 February 2024. Retrieved 5 February 2024.
  17. ^ "I will finish Geingob's tenure – Mbumba". The Namibian. 5 February 2024. Retrieved 6 February 2024.
  18. ^ "President Nangolo Mbumba Awarded Namibia's Highest Honor, The Most Ancient Order of Welwitschia Mirabilis - Future Media News". futuremedianews.com.na. 5 August 2024. Retrieved 25 August 2024.
  19. ^ a b Namibian, Eliaser Ndeyanale, The (9 August 2024). "Questions linger over Pohamba conferring honour on Mbumba". The Namibian. Retrieved 25 August 2024.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)

Further sources

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Political offices
Preceded by Vice-President of Namibia
2018–2024 		Succeeded by
Preceded by President of Namibia
2024–present 		Incumbent
Party political offices
Preceded by Secretary-General of SWAPO
2013–2017 		Succeeded by
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