Lydia Katjita
Encyclopedia
Lydia Katjita is a former member of the National Assembly of Namibia
and the Pan-African Parliament
.
of Namibia
. In 1989, she received a Higher Primary Education Certificate (HPEC) from the University of Namibia
. She acquired a B.A.
from the University of South Africa
in 1996 and enrolled in the Master of Education
al Management and Administration program at the University of Namibia the next year.
From 1980 to the start of her national political career in 1999, Katjita was a teacher. During this time, she held multiple other positions, including Head of Department for Sciences, Mathematics
, English
, and Afrikaans
at the Ministry of Education in Grootfontein
(1993–1999), member of the School Board and Management Committee at Kalenga English Primary School (1993–1999), Treasurer of the Evangelical Lutheran
Church in Grootfontein (1994–recent), Chairperson of the Grootfontein Town Council (1995–1996), part-time teacher at the Namibian College of Open Learning (NAMCOL) in Grootfontein (1995–1999), and assistant researcher to Dr. S. Ellingson at the University of Namibia (1997).
. While in office, she focused especially on legislation affecting rural
areas and was a member of the standing committee
s on Human Resources and Gender Development and on Privileges and Reports of the Ombudsperson. In 2002, she was appointed chairman of a parliamentary sub-committee to accept nominations for the Nobel Peace Prize
in Namibia. Katjita was also a member of the Namibia branch of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association
and the Pan-African Parliament
, where she was on the Justice and Human Rights Committee and the Pan-African Parliamentary Women Caucus. In July 2005, she was appointed Secretary for Administration and Finance of the Pan African Women’s Organization.
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 the Pan-African Parliament
Pan-African Parliament
The Pan-African Parliament , also known as the African Parliament, is the legislative body of the African Union and held its inaugural session in March 2004. The PAP exercises oversight, and has advisory and consultative powers, lasting for the first five years...
.
Biography
Lydia Katjita was born 15 October 1953 in Omatjete in the Erongo RegionErongo Region
Erongo is one of the 13 regions of Namibia. It comprises the Swakopmund magisterial district up to the Ugab River and includes Walvis Bay, Omaruru and Karibib magisterial districts. This region is named after Erongo mountain, a well known landmark in Namibia and in this area...
of Namibia
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...
. In 1989, she received a Higher Primary Education Certificate (HPEC) 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...
. She acquired 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...
from the University of South Africa
University of South Africa
The University of South Africa is a distance education university, with headquarters in Pretoria, South Africa. With approximately 300 000 enrolled students, it qualifies as one of the world's mega universities.-History:...
in 1996 and enrolled in the Master of Education
Master of Education
The Master of Education is a postgraduate academic master's degree awarded by universities in a large number of countries. This degree in education often includes the following majors: curriculum and instruction, counseling, and administration. It is often conferred for educators advancing in...
al Management and Administration program at the University of Namibia the next year.
From 1980 to the start of her national political career in 1999, Katjita was a teacher. During this time, she held multiple other positions, including Head of Department for Sciences, Mathematics
Mathematics
Mathematics is the study of quantity, space, structure, and change. Mathematicians seek out patterns and formulate new conjectures. Mathematicians resolve the truth or falsity of conjectures by mathematical proofs, which are arguments sufficient to convince other mathematicians of their validity...
, English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
, and Afrikaans
Afrikaans
Afrikaans is a West Germanic language, spoken natively in South Africa and Namibia. It is a daughter language of Dutch, originating in its 17th century dialects, collectively referred to as Cape Dutch .Afrikaans is a daughter language of Dutch; see , , , , , .Afrikaans was historically called Cape...
at the Ministry of Education in Grootfontein
Grootfontein
Grootfontein is a city of 14,200 inhabitants in the Otjozondjupa Region of central Namibia. It is one of the three towns in the Otavi Triangle, situated on the B8 national road that leads from Windhoek to the Caprivi Strip...
(1993–1999), member of the School Board and Management Committee at Kalenga English Primary School (1993–1999), Treasurer of the Evangelical Lutheran
Lutheranism
Lutheranism is a major branch of Western Christianity that identifies with the theology of Martin Luther, a German reformer. Luther's efforts to reform the theology and practice of the church launched the Protestant Reformation...
Church in Grootfontein (1994–recent), Chairperson of the Grootfontein Town Council (1995–1996), part-time teacher at the Namibian College of Open Learning (NAMCOL) in Grootfontein (1995–1999), and assistant researcher to Dr. S. Ellingson at the University of Namibia (1997).
Political career
Katjita became a member of the Third National Assembly of Namibia in 2000 (representing SWAPO) and remained in office until after the November 2004 Namibian parliamentary electionNamibian parliamentary election, 2004
General elections were held in Namibia on 15 and 16 November 2004 to elect the President and National Assembly. The National Assembly election resulted in a landslide win for SWAPO, which won 55 of the 78 seats with over 75% of the vote. SWAPO's candidate for president, Hifikepunye Pohamba, won the...
. While in office, she focused especially on legislation affecting rural
Rural
Rural areas or the country or countryside are areas that are not urbanized, though when large areas are described, country towns and smaller cities will be included. They have a low population density, and typically much of the land is devoted to agriculture...
areas and was a member of the standing committee
Standing Committee
In the United States Congress, standing committees are permanent legislative panels established by the United States House of Representatives and United States Senate rules. . Because they have legislative jurisdiction, standing committees consider bills and issues and recommend measures for...
s on Human Resources and Gender Development and on Privileges and Reports of the Ombudsperson. In 2002, she was appointed chairman of a parliamentary sub-committee to accept nominations for the Nobel Peace Prize
Nobel Peace Prize
The Nobel Peace Prize is one of the five Nobel Prizes bequeathed by the Swedish industrialist and inventor Alfred Nobel.-Background:According to Nobel's will, the Peace Prize shall be awarded to the person who...
in Namibia. Katjita was also a member of the Namibia branch of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association
Commonwealth Parliamentary Association
The Commonwealth Parliamentary Association, previously known as the Empire Parliamentary Association, is an organisation, of British origin, which works to support good governance, democracy and human rights...
and the Pan-African Parliament
Pan-African Parliament
The Pan-African Parliament , also known as the African Parliament, is the legislative body of the African Union and held its inaugural session in March 2004. The PAP exercises oversight, and has advisory and consultative powers, lasting for the first five years...
, where she was on the Justice and Human Rights Committee and the Pan-African Parliamentary Women Caucus. In July 2005, she was appointed Secretary for Administration and Finance of the Pan African Women’s Organization.
See also
- National Assembly of NamibiaNational Assembly of NamibiaThe 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...
- Pan-African ParliamentPan-African ParliamentThe Pan-African Parliament , also known as the African Parliament, is the legislative body of the African Union and held its inaugural session in March 2004. The PAP exercises oversight, and has advisory and consultative powers, lasting for the first five years...
- Politics of NamibiaPolitics of NamibiaPolitics of Namibia takes place in a framework of a presidential representative democratic republic, whereby the President of Namibia is both head of state and head of government, and of a pluriform multi-party system. Executive power is exercised by the government. Legislative power is vested in...
- South-West Africa People's OrganisationSouth-West Africa People's OrganisationThe South West Africa People's Organization is a political party and former liberation movement in Namibia. It has been the governing party in Namibia since achieving independence in 1990...
External links
- Parliament of Namibia
- Members of the 3rd National Assembly of the Republic of Namibia, 1999-2004
- Pan-African Parliament