John Mutorwa
Encyclopedia
John Mutorwa is a Namibia
n politician. A member of the South West Africa People's Organization, Mutorwa has been a member of the National Assembly
and of the cabinets
of Sam Nujoma
and Hifikepunye Pohamba
since 1992. Mutorwa has been the Minister of Youth, National Services, Sport and Culture since March 2005.
, from which he graduated from in 1984. He earned a B.A.
in 1995 from the University of Namibia
. In 2002, he earned a master's degree in Interdisciplinary studies from the University of Montana.
, where he worked as a teacher and principal from 1985 to 1990. He also worked for reconciliation efforts, serving as Secretary of the Repatriation, Resettlement and Rehabilitation of Roman Catholic Justice and Peace Commission from 1988 to 1989. Following independence in 1990, he served as Regional Commissioner for Kavango
, Omega, and Tsumkwe
until 1992. In that year, Mutorwa joined the government in Windhoek
as a Member of Parliament
. Beginning in 1992 as well, Mutorwa served various posts in the cabinet, including as Deputy Minister of Water Affairs in the office of the President from 1992 to 1993 and Deputy Minister of Fisheries and Marine Resources from 1994 to 1995. In 1995, he was promoted to head the Ministry of Basic Education and Culture, which he did until 2005. In a cabinet shake up in that year, he became the Minister of Youth, National Services, Sport and Culture. As of August 2010, he is the Minister for Agriculture, Water and Forestry.
Namibia
Namibia, officially the Republic of Namibia , is a country in southern Africa whose western border is the Atlantic Ocean. It shares land borders with Angola and Zambia to the north, Botswana to the east and South Africa to the south and east. It gained independence from South Africa on 21 March...
n politician. A member of the South West Africa People's Organization, Mutorwa has been a member of the National Assembly
National Assembly of Namibia
The National Assembly of Namibia is the lower chamber of the country's bicameral Parliament. It has a total of 78 members. 72 members are directly elected through a system of party-list proportional representation and serve five-year terms. Six additional members are appointed by the President.The...
and of the cabinets
Cabinet of Namibia
The Cabinet of Namibia is an appointed body that was established by the Chapter 6 of the Constitution of Namibia. It is mandated to include the following positions:...
of Sam Nujoma
Sam Nujoma
Samuel Daniel Shafiishuna Nujoma is a Namibian politician who was the first President of Namibia from 1990 to 2005. He led the South-West Africa People's Organisation in its long struggle against South African rule and took office as President when Namibia obtained independence on 21 March 1990...
and Hifikepunye Pohamba
Hifikepunye Pohamba
Hifikepunye Lucas Pohamba is the second and current President of Namibia. He won the 2004 and 2009 presidential elections overwhelmingly as the candidate of the South West Africa People's Organisation ruling party, taking office in March 2005. He has also been the President of SWAPO since...
since 1992. Mutorwa has been the Minister of Youth, National Services, Sport and Culture since March 2005.
Education
Mutorwa attended the University of Fort HareUniversity of Fort Hare
The University of Fort Hare is a public university in Alice, Eastern Cape, South Africa. It was a key institution in higher education for black Africans from 1916 to 1959. It offered a Western-style, academically excellent education to students from across sub-Saharan Africa, creating a black...
, from which he graduated from in 1984. He earned a B.A.
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
in 1995 from the University of Namibia
University of Namibia
The University of Namibia is the national university of Namibia, located in the Pioneers Park district of Windhoek. Established by an act of National Assembly on 31 August 1992, UNAM includes Colleges of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Economics & Management Science Education, Humanities and...
. In 2002, he earned a master's degree in Interdisciplinary studies from the University of Montana.
Career
Following his education at Fort Hare, Mutorwa returned to KavangolandKavangoland
Kavangoland was a bantustan in South West Africa , intended by the apartheid government to be a self-governing homeland for the Kavango people...
, where he worked as a teacher and principal from 1985 to 1990. He also worked for reconciliation efforts, serving as Secretary of the Repatriation, Resettlement and Rehabilitation of Roman Catholic Justice and Peace Commission from 1988 to 1989. Following independence in 1990, he served as Regional Commissioner for Kavango
Kavango
The Kavango people, also known as the vaKavango, reside on the Namibian side of the Namibian–Angolan border along the Kavango River. They are mainly riverine living people, but about 20% reside in the dry inland. Their livelihood is based on fishery, livestock-keeping and cropping...
, Omega, and Tsumkwe
Tsumkwe
Tsumkwe is a settlement in the Otjozondjupa Region of Namibia and the district capital of the Tsumkwe electoral constituency.-Nature and wildlife:...
until 1992. In that year, Mutorwa joined the government in Windhoek
Windhoek
Windhoek is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Namibia. It is located in central Namibia in the Khomas Highland plateau area, at around above sea level. The 2001 census determined Windhoek's population was 233,529...
as a Member of Parliament
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
. Beginning in 1992 as well, Mutorwa served various posts in the cabinet, including as Deputy Minister of Water Affairs in the office of the President from 1992 to 1993 and Deputy Minister of Fisheries and Marine Resources from 1994 to 1995. In 1995, he was promoted to head the Ministry of Basic Education and Culture, which he did until 2005. In a cabinet shake up in that year, he became the Minister of Youth, National Services, Sport and Culture. As of August 2010, he is the Minister for Agriculture, Water and Forestry.