President Hage Geingob Succeeded by Nangolo Mbumba Party SWAPO Preceded by Peter Tsheehama Education University of Helsinki | President Hifikepunye Pohamba Role Namibian Politician Name Nickey Iyambo Residence Windhoek, Namibia | |
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President Hifikepunye Pohamba
Hage Geingob | ||
Preceded by Ngarikutuke Tjiriange | ||
Nickey Iyambo discusses salary increment of civil servants with Unions
Nickey Iyambo (born 20 May 1936) is a Namibian politician and physician who is the first and current Vice President of Namibia, in office since 2015. A member of SWAPO, Iyambo has been a member of the Cabinet of Namibia since independence in March 1990. He was the Minister of Health and Social Services from 1990 to 1996, Minister of Regional and Local Government and Housing from 1996 to 2002, Minister of Mines and Energy from 2002 to 2005, Minister of Agriculture, Water and Forestry from 2005 to 2008, Minister of Safety and Security from 2008 to 2010, and Minister of Veterans' Affairs from 2010 to 2015. As Vice President, he continues to head the Ministry of Veterans' Affairs.
Contents
- Nickey Iyambo discusses salary increment of civil servants with Unions
- Early life and education
- Career
- Awards and honours
- References
Early life and education
Iyambo was born in Onayena, Oshikoto Region. He earned four separate degrees from University of Helsinki in Finland, beginning with a MSc in 1969. In 1970, he earned a MA in political science, a BA in medicine in 1974 and MD in medicine in 1980. During his time studying at the University of Helsinki, Iyambo was an active member of the Student Union and a representative of SWAPO at the University. His roommate at the university was current Governor of the Bank of Finland Erkki Liikanen.
Career
Iyambo was Namibia's first Black postmaster from 1962 to 1963 but fled into exile with SWAPO in 1964. He was amongst the earliest SWAPO members to go into exile and helped establish SWAPO's close relationship with Julius Nyerere's Tanzania.
At independence in March 1990, Iyambo became Minister of Health and Social Services, serving in that post until 1996. Subsequently he was Minister of Regional and Local Government and Housing from 1996 to 2002, Minister of Mines and Energy from 2002 to 2005, and Minister of Agriculture, Water and Forestry from 2005 to 2008. He was moved to the post of Minister of Safety and Security on 8 April 2008. After two years in that post, he was instead appointed as Minister of Veterans' Affairs in President Hifikepunye Pohamba's second Cabinet, serving in that post from 2010 to 2015. He was SWAPO's oldest Member of Parliament as of 2014.
Alongside President Hage Geingob, Iyambo was sworn in as Vice President of Namibia on 21 March 2015, becoming the first person to hold that title. As Vice President, he continues to head the Ministry of Veterans Affairs with two deputy ministers: Alexia Manombe-Ncube and Royal /Ui/o/oo.
Speaking in April 2016, Geingob and Iyambo dismissed suggestions that Iyambo had been relegated to a largely ceremonial role. Iyambo explained that he had a full agenda of work that kept him busy until midnight every day.
Awards and honours
2011: On 18 March 2011 President of Finland Tarja Halonen conferred Iyambo the rank of Commander, First Class, of the Order of the Lion of Finland.
2014: On Heroes' Day 2014 he was conferred the Most Brilliant Order of the Sun, First Class.