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Katrina Hanse-Himarwa

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The Honourable
Katrina Hanse-Himarwa
Minister of Education, Arts and Culture
In office
21 March 2015 – 9 July 2019
PresidentHage Geingob
Prime MinisterSaara Kuugongelwa
Preceded byDavid Namwandi
Succeeded byMartin Andjaba
Governor of Hardap Region
In office
2004 – 20 March 2015
PresidentHifikepunye Pohamba
Prime MinisterNahas Angula
Hage Geingob
Succeeded byEsme Sophia Isaack
Personal details
Born(1967-01-22)22 January 1967
Hoachanas, South West Africa (now Namibia)
Died14 July 2024(2024-07-14) (aged 57)
Windhoek, Namibia
Political partySWAPO
OccupationTeacher

Katrina Hanse-Himarwa (22 January 1967 – 14 July 2024) was a Namibian politician. A member of the SWAPO party, she served as Minister of Education, Arts and Culture from 21 March 2015 to 9 July 2019, resigning a day after being convicted of corruption.

Professional career

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Hanse-Himarwa was a teacher by profession. She held a Basic Education Teacher's Diploma (BETD) obtained in 1995 and a Bachelor in Education Management Technology obtained in 1999. She began working as teacher and school principal in 1987.[1]

Political career

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After winning the Mariental Rural constituency in the 2004 local elections for the SWAPO party, she was appointed governor of Hardap Region, a position she held until 2015.[1] Hanse-Himarwa was one of the eight presidential appointees to the 6th National Assembly of Namibia to the role of non-voting member of the body.[2] President Hage Geingob appointed her minister of Education, Arts and Culture on 21 March 2015.[3]

In July 2019, Hanse-Himarwa was found guilty of corruption and lying under oath. Judge Christie Liebenberg at the Windhoek High Court found that she had used her office for self-gratification while she served as governor of Hardap Region to remove listed names on a national housing project in order to favour one of her relatives. She was represented by a lawyer, Sisa Namandje, who was not present during the delivery of the verdict.[4][5]

A day after the verdict on 9 July 2019, Hanse-Himarwa resigned from her position as minister of education.[6] Martin Andjaba succeeded her in an acting position because the next parliamentary election was only months away.[7] Hanse-Himarwa was sentenced to a fine of N$50 000 on 31 July 2019 at the Windhoek High Court, becoming the third high-ranking member of the SWAPO Party since Tobie Aupindi and Marina Kandumbu to be sentenced. She retained her seat in parliament.[8][9]

Death

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Hanse-Himarwa died from cancer on 14 July 2024, at the age of 57.[10] Hanse-Himarwa was laid to rest at Mariental.

Recognition

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Hanse-Himarwa was conferred the Most Distinguished Order of Namibia: First Class on Heroes' Day 2014.[11] President Nangolo Mbumba has conferred an Official Funeral to Katrina Hanse-Himarwa.[12][13]

References

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  1. ^ a b "Hanse-Himarwa, Katrina". Government of Namibia. Retrieved 11 December 2023.
  2. ^ Mathias Haufiku, "Who are the presidential appointees?", New Era, 3 February 2015.
  3. ^ Immanuel, Shinovene; Mongudhi, Tileni (20 March 2015). "Costly Democracy". The Namibian. pp. 1–2. Archived from the original on 10 April 2015. Retrieved 2 February 2016.
  4. ^ Endjala, Simon (8 July 2019). "Hanse-Himarwa to hear judgement today". New Era.
  5. ^ Menges, Werner (9 July 2019). "The Hanse-Himarwa verdict: GUILTY". The Namibian. p. 1.
  6. ^ Matthys, Donald (9 July 2019). "Hanse-Himarwa resigns as Education Minister amid graft charges". Namibia Economist.
  7. ^ Shikongo, Arlana (11 July 2019). "Geingob gives Andjaba education portfolio". The Namibian. p. 1.
  8. ^ "Former education minister faces sentencing on Wednesday". NBC. NAMPA. 30 July 2019. Archived from the original on 31 July 2019.
  9. ^ Routh, Roland. "Hanse-Himarwa pre-sentencing starts today". New Era. Archived from the original on 31 July 2019.
  10. ^ Former education minister dies Namibian.com
  11. ^ "Namibians honoured by President". New Era. 28 August 2014. Archived from the original on 29 June 2018. Retrieved 21 November 2017.
  12. ^ info_e12wt4cs (17 July 2024). "Hanse-Himarwa to be laid to rest on 27 July at Mariental – Windhoek Observer". Retrieved 25 August 2024.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  13. ^ info_e12wt4cs (23 July 2024). "Hanse-Himarwa to receive official funeral – Windhoek Observer". Retrieved 25 August 2024.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
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