Nangolo Mbumba

Education and early career

Born on 15 August 1941 in Olukonda, Oshikoto Region, South West Africa (now Namibia), 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.

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.

Politics

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.

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

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 244 and pledged before the election that he would resign from his ministerial position if successful. 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.

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.

President of Namibia (2024–2025)

Nangolo Mbumba became acting president of Namibia when President Hage Geingob traveled to the United States for cancer treatment on 24 January 2024. Mbumba announced the passing of Dr. Geingob in the early hours of 4 February. 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. Mbumba pledged to finish Geingob's term, which would expire on 21 March 2025, adding: "I am not going to be around for the elections. So don't panic." Mbumba was the Chief Mourner during the passing of Dr Hage Geingob and served that title once again when the Father of the Namibian Nation, Dr Sam Nujoma passed away on the 9th of February 2025.

Honours

• Cuba:

  • [[File:Ribbon jose marti.png|70px]] Order of José Martí (17 December 2024)

• Namibia

  • [[File:Order of the Most Ancient Welwitschia Mirabilis (Namibia) - ribbon bar.gif|70px]] Order of the Welwitschia (2024) Conferred by H.E Dr Hifikepunye Pohamba, Former President of Namibia, 2005-2015.

References

Sources

• Hopwood, Graham. Guide to Namibian Politics, 2007 edition. Namibia Institute for Democracy, Windhoek, 2007

References

1. "Vice President Mbumba takes the baton at University of Namibia | Namibia Economist".
2. Nyaungwa, Nyasha. (4 February 2024). "Namibia interim president says no plan to run in this year's election".
3. "Nangolo Mbumba Profile". Africa Confidential.
4. "The Vice President. His Excellecny (sic!) Nangolo Mbumba". Office of the President.
5. [https://neweralive.na/posts/from-school-principal-to-presidency-the-rise-and-rise-of-nangolo-mbumba From school principal to Presidency… The rise and rise of Nangolo Mbumba]
6. [https://www.parliament.na/dt_team/mbumba-nangolo-resign/ Mbumba, Nangolo (Resigned)], Parliament of Namibia
7. [https://neweralive.na/posts/walvis-marks-20-years-reintegration Walvis marks 20 years of reintegration]
8. (March 2020). "Namibia's First Cabinet". 30th Independence anniversary supplement to several Namibian newspapers.
9. (3 December 2012). "Moderates prevail". [[The Namibian]].
10. Selma Shipanga and Shinovene Immanuel, [http://www.namibian.com.na/news/full-story/archive/2012/december/article/transition-team-picked/ "Transition team picked"] {{webarchive. link. (2012-12-06 , ''The Namibian'', 5 December 2012.)
11. Matthys, Donald. (8 February 2018). "President reshuffles Cabinet—Vice President relieved of duties". [[Namibia Economist]].
12. (12 February 2018). "Nangolo Mbumba being sworn in as the new Vice President of Namibia". The Villager.
13. Mbathera, Ester. (28 January 2024). "Politicians support Geingob on US cancer treatment". [[The Namibian]].
14. "Namibia's President Hage Geingob dies aged 82".
15. "Nangolo Mbumba sworn in as Namibia's fourth President".
16. (4 February 2024). "Hage Geingob: Namibia's president dies aged 82".
17. (5 February 2024). "I will finish Geingob's tenure – Mbumba". [[The Namibian]].
18. (17 December 2024). "Namibian President receives highest decoration awarded by Cuban government".