Nangolo Mbumba Biography, Wiki, Age, Wife, Children, Net Worth, Family, Qualifications, and more
Nangolo Mbumba is the fourth and current president of Namibia, a country in Southern Africa that gained its independence from South Africa in 1990. He became president after the death of his predecessor, Hage Geingob, in February 2024, under whom he had served as the second vice president of Namibia since 2018. He is a veteran politician and a member of the ruling party, the South West Africa People’s Organization (SWAPO), which has been in power since independence.
He has held various ministerial positions in the government, such as agriculture, finance, education, and safety and security. He is also the chancellor of the University of Namibia, the largest and oldest public university in the country. Mbumba is widely respected for his experience, integrity, and humility. He has announced that he has no intention of running for reelection and will serve as a caretaker president until the next general elections in 2025.
Nangolo Mbumba Wiki/Bio
| Name | Nangolo Mbumba |
|---|---|
| Birth date | 15 August 1941 |
| Birth place | Olukonda, Oshikoto Region, Namibia |
| Ethnicity | Oshiwambo |
| Nationality | Namibian |
| Religion | Christian (Lutheran) |
| Spouse | Sustjie Mbumba |
| Children | Four |
| Education | BSc from Southern Connecticut State University, MSc from University of Connecticut |
| Occupation | Politician, educator |
| Political party | SWAPO |
| Current position | President of Namibia |
| Previous positions | Vice president, secretary-general of SWAPO, minister of agriculture, water and rural development, minister of finance, minister of information and broadcasting, minister of education, minister of safety and security, chancellor of University of Namibia |
| Links | Wikipedia- @Nangolo_Mbumba Twitter- @OfficialMbumba Homepage- Newsunzip |
Parents, Birthday, Education
Nangolo Mbumba was born on 15 August 1941 (age: 82 years, as of 2023) in Olukonda, a village in the Oshikoto Region of northern Namibia. He is the son of Erastus and Johanna Mbumba, who were both teachers and activists. He attended the Oshigambo High School, a Lutheran mission school, where he excelled academically and became involved in the liberation struggle against the apartheid regime of South Africa, which occupied Namibia at the time. He joined SWAPO in 1959 and became one of its youth leaders. He was arrested several times by the South African authorities for his political activities and spent some time in prison.
In 1969, he managed to escape to Zambia, where SWAPO had its headquarters. He received a scholarship from the United Nations to study in the United States, where he pursued his higher education. He graduated from Southern Connecticut State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in 1971 and from the University of Connecticut with a Master of Science degree in biology in 1973. He also obtained a teaching certificate from the Connecticut State Department of Education. He taught science at the Harlem Preparatory School in New York City for five years, where he inspired many students from disadvantaged backgrounds to pursue their academic goals.
In 1978, Mbumba returned to Africa and joined the SWAPO Education Centre in Cuanza Sul, Angola, where he became the head of the science department. He also served as the personal secretary to SWAPO president Sam Nujoma, who later became the first president of Namibia. He played a key role in the negotiations for Namibia’s independence, which was achieved in 1990 after decades of armed struggle and international pressure.
Political Career
After independence, Nangolo Mbumba was appointed as the minister of agriculture, water and rural development in the first cabinet of President Nujoma. He was responsible for implementing policies and programs to improve food security, water supply, and rural development in the country. He also initiated the land reform process, which aimed to address the historical inequalities and injustices in land ownership and distribution.
He held this portfolio until 1996, when he was appointed as the minister of finance. In this capacity, he oversaw the management of the national budget, revenue, expenditure, and debt. He also introduced fiscal reforms and measures to promote economic growth, stability, and diversification. He was credited for maintaining sound macroeconomic policies and prudent financial management, which earned Namibia a favorable credit rating and international reputation.
In 2003, Mbumba was appointed as the minister of information and broadcasting, where he was in charge of the media, communication, and public relations of the government. He also supervised the implementation of the information and communication technology (ICT) policy, which aimed to enhance access, affordability, and quality of ICT services in the country. He held this position until 2005 when he was appointed as the minister of education.
In this role, Nangolo Mbumba was responsible for the development and improvement of the education system, from pre-primary to tertiary level. He also oversaw the implementation of the education and Training Sector Improvement Program (ETSIP), which was a comprehensive reform initiative to address the challenges and gaps in the education sector. He also launched the Namibia Student Financial Assistance Fund (NSFAF), which provided loans and grants to needy students to pursue higher education.
In 2010, Mbumba was appointed as the minister of safety and security, where he was responsible for the maintenance of law and order, crime prevention, and public safety. He also supervised the operations and administration of the Namibian Police Force (NAMPOL), the Namibian Correctional Service (NCS), and the Namibian Central Intelligence Service (NCIS). He held this position until 2012 when he was elected as the secretary-general of SWAPO, the highest administrative position in the party.
He was responsible for the coordination and management of the party’s affairs, activities, and structures. He also served as the chief campaign manager for the party’s candidates in the 2014 and 2019 general elections, which resulted in landslide victories for SWAPO and its presidential nominee, Hage Geingob.
In 2018, Nangolo was appointed as the vice president of Namibia by President Geingob, who had won a second term in office. He replaced Nickey Iyambo, who had resigned due to ill health. As the vice president, Mbumba was the second in command in the executive branch of the government and the first in the line of succession to the presidency.
He also served as the principal advisor to the president on all matters of state and government. He also represented the president at various national and international events and engagements. He also became the chancellor of the University of Namibia, the ceremonial head of the institution, in 2018.
In February 2024, President Geingob passed away after a long illness, leaving a vacancy in the highest office of the land. According to the constitution, the vice president automatically succeeds to the presidency in the event of death, resignation, or incapacity of the president. Mbumba was sworn in as the fourth president of Namibia on 4 February 2024, in a solemn ceremony attended by dignitaries and mourners from within and outside the country.
Nangolo Mbumba declared a state of mourning for 21 days and vowed to continue the legacy and vision of his late predecessor. He also announced that he has no intention of running for reelection and will serve as a caretaker president until the next general elections in 2025, when he will hand over power to a new leader.
Spouse, Kids
Nangolo Mbumba is married to Sustjie Mbumba, a former teacher and social worker. They have four children and several grandchildren. He is a devout Christian and a member of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Namibia (ELCIN). He is also an avid reader and a lover of music and sports. He enjoys playing chess and golf in his spare time. He is fluent in English, Oshiwambo, and Portuguese, and can speak some German and Afrikaans.
Net Worth and Salary
As the president of Namibia, Mbumba earns a monthly salary of N$ 1,382,000 (about US$ 95,000), according to the 2020/2021 budget. This makes him one of the highest-paid leaders in Africa and the world. His net worth is estimated to be around N$ 50 million (about US$ 3.4 million), according to various sources. He owns several properties and assets in Namibia and abroad, including a farm, a house, and a car. He also has investments in various sectors, such as banking, mining, and tourism.
Height, Weight
- Height: 5 ft 9 in
- Weight: 88 kg
Books and Publications
Nangolo Mbumba is the author of a book titled Namibia in History: Junior Secondary History Book, which was published in 1990. The book is a comprehensive and objective account of the history of Namibia, from pre-colonial times to independence. It covers topics such as the origins and diversity of the Namibian people, the colonial and apartheid era, the liberation struggle, and the transition to democracy. The book is widely used as a textbook and a reference material in schools and libraries across the country.
He has also written and contributed to several articles and papers on various topics, such as education, finance, agriculture, and politics. Some of his publications include:
- Mbumba, N. (1998). The role of the Ministry of Finance in the development of Namibia. In H. Melber (Ed.), Namibia: A Decade of Independence 1990-2000 (pp. 43-52). Windhoek: Namibia Scientific Society.
- Mbumba, N. (2004). The challenges of information and communication technology in Namibia. In P. T. Zeleza & A. Olukoshi (Eds.), African Universities in the Twenty-first Century (Vol. 2, pp. 303-312). Dakar: CODESRIA.
- Mbumba, N. (2006). The education and training sector improvement programme: A strategic framework for quality education in Namibia. Journal of Education for International Development, 2(2), 1-12.
- Mbumba, N. (2010). The role of the Ministry of Safety and Security in the maintenance of peace and stability in
