Hendrik Witbooi (politician)

Reverend Dr Kaptein Hendrik Witbooi (traditional name ǃNanseb ǀGabemab; 7 January 1934, in Gibeon – 13 October 2009, in Windhoek) 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 Namaqua into the liberation organisation.

Hendrik Witbooi
Deputy-Prime Minister of Namibia
In office
March 1990 – March 2005
PresidentSam Nujoma
Preceded byposition established
Succeeded byLibertina Amathila
Minister of Labour and Manpower Development
In office
21 March 1990 – 1995
PresidentSam Nujoma
Preceded byposition established
Personal details
Born(1934-01-07)January 7, 1934
Gibeon, Hardap Region
DiedOctober 13, 2009(2009-10-13) (aged 75)
Windhoek
NationalityNamibian
Political partySWAPO
OccupationPolitician

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]

Personal edit

Witbooi was the great-grandson of Hendrik Witbooi, the early resistance leader who led his chiefly followers against European colonisation.[1]

References edit

  1. ^ a b Dierks, Klaus. "Biographies of Namibian Personalities, W". klausdierks.com. Retrieved 16 July 2013.
  2. ^ Official biography from the National Assembly of Namibia Archived September 19, 2003, at the Wayback Machine
  3. ^ "Former Deputy Prime Ministers". OPM - Office of the Prime Minister of Namibia.
  4. ^ Christof Maletzky (13 October 2009): Witbooi critical. The Namibian
  5. ^ Luqman Cloete, Christof Maletzky (14 October 2009): Reverend Witbooi passes. The Namibian