Born on 15 August 1941, at Olukonda, Oshikoto Region, Namibia, H.E Dr. Nangolo Mbumba is the fourth and current President of the Republic of Namibia, following the death of the Third President of Namibia, Dr. Hage Gottfried Geingob. President Mbumba has served previously, as Vice President from 2018 to February 2024.
Political Career
As Member of SWAPO, Nangolo Mbumba left Namibia for exile via Botswana to Zambia, in 1965. He later became SWAPO Deputy Secretary for Education and Culture in 1985. In 1987 he was appointed as Personal Secretary to the President of SWAPO, Dr. Sam Nujoma.
In 1989, Nangolo Mbumba returned to Namibia from exile to participate in the UN-supervised elections. During this time, he served in the Office of the SWAPO Director of Elections, Dr. Hage Geingob.
In 1990, He joined the new Government of Namibia as Secretary to Cabinet until 1992. He was then appointed as Chief Executive Officer for the Joint Administration of Walvis Bay and Offshore Islands for its re-integration into Namibia. Walvis Bay was subsequently re-integrated into Namibia on 1st March 1994.
Nangolo Mbumba became Member of the National Assembly in 1993 until 2018. He served as Minister of various Ministries in the Namibian Government, such as Minister of Agriculture, Water and Rural Development (1993-1996); Minister of Finance (1996-2003); Minister of Information and Broadcasting (2003-2005); Minister of Education (2005–2010); and Minister of Safety and Security (2010-2012).
In 2012, Nangolo Mbumba was elected SWAPO Party Secretary-General, a full time position where he served from 2012-2017. In 2018, Mbumba was appointed Vice President of the Republic of Namibia, a position he held until 4 February 2024 when he became President of the Republic of Namibia.
Education and early career
Nangolo Mbumba attended Primary School at Olukonda. Later he attended the Ongwediva Boys School between 1959 and 1961. In 1962 he studied at Oshigambo High School and matriculated in 1965.
He later studied at Southern Connecticut State College in the USA completing a B.SC degree in 1971 and an M.SC in Biology at University of Connecticut in 1973, respectively.
After graduating from the University in Connecticut, Nangolo Mbumba began teaching at Harlem Preparatory School in New York. He left New York in 1978, and returned to the struggle where he became the Head of the Science Department at the Namibia Education Centre in Cuanza Sul, Angola. In 1980, he was promoted to the post of Principal of the Centre. He held that post until 1985.
Family
Nangolo Mbumba is married to Sustjie Nashili Mbumba and they have six children and ten grandchildren.