Major General Charles Dickson Ndaxu Phillip Namoloh (born 28 February 1950) is a Namibian diplomat, politician and military figure who served in the cabinet of Namibia as Minister of Safety and Security from March 2015 to March 2020. Namoloh has been a member of the National Assembly of Namibia since 2005; having served as Minister of Defence from 2005 to 2012 and Minister of Regional and Local Government, Housing and Rural Development from 2012 to 2015.
Charles Namoloh | |
|---|---|
| Minister of Safety and Security | |
| In office 21 March 2015 – 21 March 2020 | |
| Preceded by | Immanuel Ngatjizeko |
| Succeeded by | Frans Kapofi |
| Minister of Regional and Local Government, Housing and Rural Development | |
| In office 4 December 2012 – 21 March 2015 | |
| Preceded by | Jerry Ekandjo |
| Succeeded by | Sophia Shaningwa |
| Minister of Defence | |
| In office 21 March 2005 – 4 December 2012 | |
| Preceded by | Erkki Nghimtina |
| Succeeded by | Nahas Angula |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 28 February 1950 Odibo, South-West Africa |
| Nationality | Namibian |
| Political party |  SWAPO |
| Occupation | Politician |
| Profession | Military commander |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  Namibia |
| Branch/service | PLAN Namibian Army |
| Years of service | 1974-1995 |
| Rank |  Major General |
| Battles/wars | Namibian War of Independence Second Congo War |
Personal
editNamoloh was born on 28 February 1950, in Odibo, Ovamboland (now Ohangwena Region). He attended his primary and secondary education at Oshakati and Tsumeb between 1965 and 1970.[1]
Career
editNamoloh entered politics as a union organizer for the South West Africa People's Organization (SWAPO) in 1971, in Walvis Bay during the Namibian War of Independence. Temporarily fleeing to southern Angola, Namoloh returned but was arrested in 1973 for pro-SWAPO activities. After spending time in prison, Namoloh was released to Kwanyama (Ovamboland) authorities to receive lashes for supporting SWAPO. Following the decolonization of Angola in 1974 and the Carnation Revolution in Portugal, Namoloh fled with other SWAPO Party Youth League members through Angola to SWAPO bases in Zambia. Rising quickly through the People's Liberation Army of Namibia (PLAN), Namoloh became the chief of staff of Dimo Hamaambo in 1979. He fought under the nom de guerre "Ho Chi Minh".[1]
Namoloh helped establish the Namibian Defence Force following independence in 1990 and was given the rank of Major General and appointed as NDF Chief of Staff in the office of the Chief of Defence between 1990 and 1995. In 1995, Namoloh was sent to Angola as Namibia's representative. In 2003, the former PLAN commander was sent to New Delhi, India as Namibia's top diplomat in that country.
Namoloh returned home in 2005 to be selected for the National Assembly and appointed Minister of Defence.[1] Following the fifth SWAPO congress at the end of November 2012, a cabinet reshuffle occurred on 4 December 2012, in which Namoloh was deployed as Minister of Regional and Local Government, Housing and Rural Development, succeeding Jerry Ekandjo. Former prime minister Nahas Angula took over Namoloh's defence portfolio.[2]
Under President Hage Geingob, Namoloh was moved to the post of Minister of Safety and Security in March 2015.[3]
References
edit- ^ a b c "Hopwood, Graham. Guide to Namibian Politics, 2007 edition. Namibia Institute for Democracy, Windhoek, 2007". Archived from the original on 2011-07-22. Retrieved 2008-08-25.
- ^ Shipanga, Selma; Immanuel, Shinovene (5 December 2012). "Transition team picked". The Namibian. Archived from the original on 2012-12-06. Retrieved 2012-12-08.
- ^ "Geingob announces Cabinet". The Namibian. 20 March 2015.