Katrina Hanse-Himarwa

Katrina Hanse-Himarwa (born 22 January 1967, in Hoachanas) is a Namibian politician. A member of the SWAPO party, she served as Minister of Education, Arts and Culture from 21 March 2015[1] to 9 July 2019.[2]

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
Political partySWAPO
OccupationTeacher

Hanse-Himarwa is a teacher by profession. She holds a Basic Education Teacher's Diploma (BETD) obtained in 1995 and a Bachelor in Education Management Technology obtained in 1999. She has been working as teacher and school principal since 1987. 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.[3]

Corruption allegations & conviction

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 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 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.[2] Martin Andjaba succeeded her in an acting position because the next parliamentary election was only months away.[6] 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.[7][8] She retained her seat in parliament.

Recognition

Hanse-Himarwa was conferred the Most Distinguished Order of Namibia: First Class on Heroes' Day 2014.[9]

References
  1. 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.
  2. Matthys, Donald (9 July 2019). "Hanse-Himarwa resigns as Education Minister amid graft charges". Namibia Economist.
  3. "Hanse-Himarwa, Katrina". Government of Namibia. 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. Shikongo, Arlana (11 July 2019). "Geingob gives Andjaba education portfolio". The Namibian. p. 1.
  7. https://www.nbc.na/news/former-education-minister-faces-sentencing-wednesday.21660 | www.nbc.na
  8. https://neweralive.na/amp/hanse-himarwa-pre-sentencing-starts-today | neweralive.na
  9. "Namibians honoured by President". New Era. 28 August 2014.
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