Peter Katjavivi
| The Honorable | |
|---|---|
| Speaker of the National Assembly | |
|
Assumed office 21 March 2015 | |
| President | Hage Geingob |
| Preceded by | Theo-Ben Gurirab |
| Vice-Chancellor of the University of Namibia | |
|
In office 1992–2003 | |
| Succeeded by | Lazarus Hangula |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
12 May 1941 Okahandja |
| Nationality | Namibian |
| Political party | SWAPO |
| Occupation | Politician |
| Profession | Professor |
| Religion | Christian |
Peter Hitjitevi Katjavivi (born 12 May 1941) is a Namibian politician who has been Speaker of the National Assembly of Namibia since 20 March 2015. Previously he served as Ambassador to Germany.[1][2]
Life and career
Peter Katjavivi was born in Okahandja and attended first a primary school in Windhoek, then the Augustineum Secondary School in Okahandja (1960–61) and the Government College in Umuahia , Nigeria (1963-1966). 1966/67 he began studying history, law and political science at the University of Dar es Salaam , Tanzania, which he in 1980 at the University of Warwick , England with a thesis on political sociology graduated Namibia. Since the 60s is Katjavivi member of SWAPO 1968 and to 1979 he was head of SWAPO overseas offices in London. In 1986 he obtained a doctorate (DPhil) at St Antony's College of Oxford University .
In 1989 he was a member of the Constituent Assembly of Namibia. From 1992 to 2003 he was Vice-Chancellor of the University of Namibia , at whose foundation he had significant influence. Katjavivi was and is a member of numerous national and international educational, cultural and research organizations, including the Executive Council Member of UNESCO (1993-1997), Chairman of the Council of National Monuments (1992-2000), now National Heritage Council of Namibia and President of the Namibia Economic Policy Research Unit (since 1990). In 2003 he became Namibian Ambassador to the European Union in Brussels and in 2006 Ambassador to Berlin. He was appointed to head the National Planning Commission in 2008.
Katjavivi is married and has five children. Besides his native Herero he speaks five more languages.
Awards
- Honorary Doctorate of the University of Joensuu , Finland, 1999
- Ordre des Palmes Académiques , France, 1996
- Certificate of Service to the Executive Council of the Association of African Universities (AAU), 2002
- Distinguished academic visitor award, New Delhi , India, 1998
Publications
- The Road to Namibian Independence, Gamsberg Macmillan, Windhoek,
- Church and Liberation in Namibia, Zwan Publications, London, 1989
- A History of Resistance in Namibia, James Currey, London, 1988 [3]